Sensor-data sub-contracting during environmental monitoring

ABSTRACT

An interface mechanism in a system receives a service request for a service associated with an environment from an electronic device of an entity. In response to the service request, a control mechanism in the system identifies an environmental monitoring device within the environment, where the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment, and the environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity that is different from the entity and a third entity associated with the system. Moreover, the control mechanism provides, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, in response to the data request, the interface mechanism receives the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device. Then, the control mechanism provides the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/047,440, entitled “Systems andMethods for Transferring Data and Revenue,” by Nina S. Joshi, Adam M.Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan, Andrew G. Stevens, Lucas D. Ivers and Bjorn H.Hovland, Attorney Docket Number LEEOPZ01300, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, thecontents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,“Alter-Driven Dynamic Sensor-Data Sub-Contracting,” by Nina S. Joshi,Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan, Andrew G. Stevens, Lucas D. Ivers andBjorn H. Hovland, having Attorney Docket No. LEEO-1504US1, filed on Apr.30, 2015, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The described embodiments relate generally to environmental monitoringof environments, and more specifically to techniques for sub-contractingfor sensor data during the environmental monitoring based on a requestfor a service.

2. Related Art

Trends in connectivity and in portable electronic devices are resultingin dramatic changes in people's lives. For example, the Internet nowallows individuals access to vast amounts of information, as well as theability to identify and interact with individuals, organizations andcompanies around the world. This has resulted in a significant increasein online financial transactions (which are sometimes referred to as‘ecommerce’). Similarly, the increasingly powerful computing andcommunication capabilities of portable electronic device (such assmartphones and tablets), as well as a large and growing set ofapplications, are accelerating these changes, providing individualsaccess to information at arbitrary locations and the ability to leveragethis information to perform a wide variety of tasks.

Recently, it has been proposed these capabilities be included in otherelectronic devices that are located throughout our environments,including those that people interact with infrequently. In the so-called‘Internet of things,’ it has been proposed that future versions of theseso-called ‘background’ electronic devices be outfitted with morepowerful computing capabilities and networking subsystems to facilitatewired or wireless communication. For example, the background electronicdevices may include: a cellular network interface (LTE, etc.), awireless local area network interface (e.g., a wireless network such asdescribed in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 standard or Bluetooth™ from the Bluetooth Special InterestGroup of Kirkland, Wash.), and/or another type of wireless interface(such as a near-field-communication interface). These capabilities mayallow the background electronic devices to be integrated intoinformation networks, thereby further transforming people's lives.

However, the overwhelming majority of the existing background electronicdevices in people's homes, offices and vehicles have neither enhancedcomputing capabilities (such as a processor that can execute a widevariety of applications) nor networking subsystems. Given the economicsof many market segments (such as the consumer market segment), theseso-called ‘legacy’ background electronic devices (which are sometimesreferred to as ‘legacy electronic devices’) are unlikely to be rapidlyreplaced.

These barriers to entry and change are obstacles to widely implementingthe Internet of things. For example, in the absence of enhancedcomputing capabilities and/or networking subsystems it may be difficultto communicate with the legacy electronic devices. Furthermore, evenwhen electronic devices include enhanced computing capabilities and/ornetworking subsystems, it may be difficult to communicate withelectronic devices that use different communication protocols. Thesechallenges may make it difficult to perform basic tasks such asidentifying particular electronic devices and exchanging data, and thusmay limit the applications and tasks that can be performed.

SUMMARY

The described embodiments relate to a system. This system includes: aninterface mechanism that communicates with electronic devices; and acontrol mechanism (such as a processor or control logic) coupled to theinterface mechanism. The control mechanism: receives, via the interfacemechanism, a service request for a service associated with anenvironment from an electronic device (such as a computer or a cellulartelephone) of an entity; and identifies an environmental monitoringdevice within the environment in response to the service request, wherethe environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that representsan environmental condition in the environment, and the environmentalmonitoring device is associated with a second entity that is differentfrom the entity and a third entity associated with the system. Moreover,the control mechanism: provides, via the interface mechanism, a datarequest for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device;receives, via the interface mechanism, the sensor data from theenvironmental monitoring device in response to the data request; andprovides the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.

Note that the service request may include compensation (or informationthat specifies the compensation) to the third entity for the service.

Moreover, the service may be associated with a type of the sensor data,and the environmental monitoring device may be identified based on thetype of the sensor data.

Furthermore, the control mechanism may analyze the sensor data, and theservice may be provided based on the analyzed sensor data.

Additionally, the second entity includes a service provider, and thedata request may include compensation (or information specifying thecompensation) to the second entity for the sensor data. Alternatively,the second entity may include a partner of the third entity, and thesensor data may be received without compensation to the second entityfor the sensor data.

In some embodiments, the control mechanism provides an instruction to aregulator device in the environment to modify the environmentalcondition, where the regulator device is associated with: the secondentity and/or a fourth entity that is different from the entity, thesecond entity and the third entity. Moreover, the instruction mayinclude compensation (or information specifying the compensation) formodifying the environmental condition. For example, the compensation maybe for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis;and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a timeinterval.

Furthermore, the service may be provided on a one-time basis.Alternatively or additionally, the service may be selectively providedas a function of time based on the environmental condition.

Note that performing the service may involve: downloading software forthe environmental monitoring device that, when executed by theenvironmental monitoring device, performs the service; and/or remotelyenabling a software module in the environmental monitoring device that,when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs theservice.

Additionally, the service may include insurance for: an item in theenvironment, a portion of the environment, and/or the environment.

In some embodiments, the control mechanism includes: a processor coupledto the interface mechanism; and memory, coupled to the processor, whichstores a program module that is executed by the processor. The programmodule may include instructions for at least some of the operationsperformed by the system.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the system. This computer-program product may includeinstructions for at least some of the aforementioned operationsperformed by the system.

Another embodiment provides a method for providing the service. Duringoperation, the system receives, via the interface mechanism in thesystem, the service request for the service associated with theenvironment from the electronic device of the entity. Then, the systemidentifies the environmental monitoring device within the environment inresponse to the service request, where the environmental monitoringdevice provides the sensor data that represents the environmentalcondition in the environment, and the environmental monitoring device isassociated with the second entity that is different from the entity andthe third entity associated with the system. Moreover, the systemprovides, via the interface mechanism, the data request for the sensordata to the environmental monitoring device. Next, the system receives,via the interface mechanism, the sensor data from the environmentalmonitoring device in response to the data request. Furthermore, thesystem provides the service to the entity based on the environmentalcondition.

The preceding summary is provided as an overview of some exemplaryembodiments and to provide a basic understanding of aspects of thesubject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-describedfeatures are merely examples and should not be construed as narrowingthe scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way.Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter describedherein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description,Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electronic devices communicatingin an ecosystem in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a component in the ecosystem of FIG. 1in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating communication among thecomponents in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in the ecosystemof FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in the ecosystemof FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in the ecosystemof FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating components and layers in the ecosystemof FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from anightlight in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from nightlightsin a space in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from anelectronic device of a user in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from anecosystem network from a provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from aservice-provider electronic device in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating layers with electronic devices of apartner of a provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 21 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 22 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among componentsin the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among componentsin the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among componentsin the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a timing diagram illustrating communication among componentsin the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a servicein the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 26 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing subsets ofsensor data in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 28 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a servicein the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 31 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 30 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a servicein the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 33 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 32 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 34 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a serviceoffer for a service in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 35 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 34 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 36 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for identifying acombination in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 37 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 36 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 38 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for performing aremedial action in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 39 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 38 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 40 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for analyzing inputs andoutputs in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 41 is a drawing illustrating communication among components in anecosystem during the method of FIG. 40 in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same partare designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by adash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, an interface mechanism in a system receives, froman electronic device of an entity, a service request for a serviceassociated with an environment. In response to the service request, acontrol mechanism in the system identifies an environmental monitoringdevice within the environment, where the environmental monitoring deviceprovides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in theenvironment, and the environmental monitoring device is associated witha second entity that is different from the entity and a third entityassociated with the system. Moreover, the control mechanism provides,via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to theenvironmental monitoring device. Furthermore, in response to the datarequest, the interface mechanism receives the sensor data from theenvironmental monitoring device. Then, the control mechanism providesthe service to the entity based on the environmental condition. Forexample, the service may include: communicating an instruction to aregulator device in the environment to modify the environmentalcondition, providing insurance, etc.

In this way, the system may dynamically subcontract with one or moredifferent second entities for the sensor data needed to selectivelyprovide a requested service to the entity. This flexibility andadaptability may allow the system to access sensor data, as needed,based on customer needs. Consequently, the system may improve theservice (e.g., the service may be more cost effective for the entity),which may increase customer satisfaction with the environmentalmonitoring device and/or the system, and/or the monitored environment.

Communication between devices in the system (which is sometimes referredto as an ‘ecosystem’), such as environmental monitoring devices,electronic devices of users or entities, partner electronic devicesand/or service-provider electronic devices, may utilize wired, opticaland/or wireless communication. In particular, the communication mayinvolve communicating packets or frames that are transmitted andreceived by radios in the devices in accordance with a communicationprotocol, such as: Bluetooth™ (from the Bluetooth Special InterestsGroup of Kirkland, Wash.), an Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.15 standard (such as ZigBee® from the ZigBee®Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.), an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, Z-Wave, a power-linecommunication (PLC) standard, an infra-red communication standard, auniversal serial bus (USB) communication standard, anear-field-communication standard or specification (from the NFC Forumof Wakefield, Mass.), another wireless ad-hoc network standard, and/oranother type of wireless interface. In some embodiments, thecommunication protocol may be compatible with a 2^(nd) generation ormobile telecommunication technology, a 3^(rd) generation of mobiletelecommunications technology (such as a communication protocol thatcomplies with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000specifications by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva,Switzerland), a 4^(th) generation of mobile telecommunicationstechnology (such as a communication protocol that complies with theInternational Mobile Telecommunications Advanced specification by theInternational Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), and/oranother cellular-telephone communication technique. For example, thecommunication protocol may include Long Term Evolution or LTE. In thediscussion that follows, ZigBee® is used as an illustrative example. Inaddition, the communication may occur via a wide variety of frequencybands, including frequencies associated with the so-called ‘white space’in frequencies bands associated with analog television broadcasting. Insome embodiments, the communication is unidirectional, while in otherembodiments the communication is bidirectional.

The communication between the devices is shown in FIG. 1, which presentsa block diagram illustrating communication among electronic devices 108(such as a cellular telephone or a portable electronic device of a useror an entity), environmental monitoring devices 110, optional electronicdevices 114 (such as regulator devices e.g., electronic device 114-2,legacy electronic devices, e.g., electronic device 114-1), optionalpartner electronic devices 116, service-provider electronic devices 118and computers 120 (which collectively are sometimes referred to as‘components’) using wireless signals and communication via network 122(such as the Internet, a wireless local area network, an Ethernetnetwork, an intra-net, an optical network, etc.). As described furtherbelow with reference to FIGS. 26-41, environmental monitoring devices110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronicdevices 118 may monitor environmental conditions (or environmentalstates) in one or more environments 112 that include or are associatedwith environmental monitoring devices 110, electronic devices 114,partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronicdevices 118. For example, environments 112 may include: a portion of abuilding (e.g., an apartment, a hotel room, an office suite, a storageunit, etc.), the building, a region proximate to or adjacent to abuilding, an outdoor space or region, a container (such as a box, apackage or a shipping container), a vehicle (such as a car, a truck or aboat), a liquid, and/or a train car. (Note that one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110, electronic devices 114, partnerelectronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118may be immersed in a liquid, and environments 112 may be at fixedlocations or time-varying locations.) Moreover, at least some ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may include sensors thatprovide sensor data that reflects the environmental conditions in theone or more environments 112. (In the discussion that follows, note that‘sensor data’ may include: information or measurements collected by oneor more devices, such as one or more of the sensors. Sensor data can bea dependent variable as a function of one or more independent variables,for example time and/or space. Moreover, sensor data can be collectedcontinuously or at discrete intervals. Furthermore, sensor data canrefer to information collected by a single sensor or a compilation ofdata collected by two or more sensors. In some embodiments, sensor datarefers to a raw measurement collected by a sensor, while in otherembodiments sensor data refers to a measurement that has been processedin some way, such as transformed from one form to another.)

In addition, partner electronic devices 116 may include sensors and/orprogram modules on behalf of a provider of a system (who may alsoprovide at least some of environmental monitoring devices 110). Thissystem may facilitate dynamic aggregation of sensor data and the dynamicconfiguration of combinations of the components in the system (such as anon-homogenous group of components) in the system to providing servicesin environments 112. (Note that at least one of computers 120 may beoperated by or on behalf of the provider of the system.) In general, thesensor data may be provided without or excluding direct interaction(such as wireless communication and/or electrical coupling) betweenenvironmental monitoring devices 110 and electronic devices 114. Thus,sensors in environmental monitoring devices 110 may indirectly inferinformation about the operation and/or the performance of electronicdevices 114 based on the monitored environmental conditions. However, insome embodiments at least some of environmental monitoring devices 110,partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronicdevices 118 interact directly with at least some of electronic devices114 (via wireless communication or electrical coupling), therebyfacilitating direct measurement of the sensor data, as well as feedbackcontrol of these electronic devices by at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110. In some embodiments, one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 is integrated into one ormore other electronic device, such as one or more of electronic devices114.

The sensor data may be analyzed locally by at least one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 and/or remotely by service-provider electronicdevices 118 and computers 120 (some of which may be associated with theprovider of the system and/or one or more partners of the provider ofthe system). Moreover, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor datamay be communicated among environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116, service-provider electronic devices 118 andcomputers 120. In particular, environmental monitoring devices 110and/or partner electronic devices 116 may form a ZigBee® mesh network,with ZigBee® end devices communicating with a ZigBee® coordinator (suchas environmental monitoring device 110-1) via one or more optionalZigBee® routers. (Thus, at least some of environmental monitoringdevices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-providerelectronic devices 118 may function as sensor-data hubs for otherenvironmental monitoring devices 110.) Then, environmental monitoringdevice 110-1, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-providerelectronic devices 118 may communicate (wirelessly and/or via computers120 and network 122) the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data toother components in the system (such as one of electronic devices 108),as well as with remote servers or computers not shown in FIG. 1. Notethat, while ZigBee® is used as an illustrative example, in otherembodiments different communication protocols are used.

In addition to the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, otherinputs and outputs from the components in the system may be communicatedin FIG. 1. In particular, compensation (or information specifyingcompensation, which in the following discussion may include: anelectronic payment, credit-card or debit-card information, abank-account number, the compensation amount in a particular currency, apromise of future goods or services, a bartered good or service, arebate and/or a service value token) for sensor data and/or services maybe communicated among the components. Thus, one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may advertise the availability of sensor dataassociated with one of environments 112 via the system and, in responseto a request for the sensor data, may sell the sensor data to anothercomponent in the system. In this way, the system may allow thecomponents to subcontract for sensor data and, more general, the systemmay provide a sensor-data and sensor-data-based services marketplace.The system may also allow the components to provide sub-services to eachother in the context of a broader service being provided by at leastsome of the components. In general, the inputs and the outputs from thecomponents in FIG. 1 may include: sensor data, analyzed sensor data,services, sub-services (which are associated with one or more of theservices), compensation (for the sensor data, the analyzed sensor data,the services and/or the sub-services), and information (such as alertsassociated with occurrences of environmental conditions in environments112).

The input and outputs from the components that are communicated in FIG.1 may be protected. For example, the sensor data (and, more generally,any of the inputs and outputs) may be encrypted, digitally signed and/orsecurely hashed (such as using a one-way cryptographic hash function) byenvironmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116and/or service-provider electronic devices 118. Furthermore, one or moreof computers 120 (such as those that are associated with the provider ofthe system), which function as archive devices, may store the inputs andthe outputs (or information specifying the inputs and the outputs, suchas pointers to locations in one or more of the components where aparticular input or output is stored). In some embodiments, at leastsome of this information is stored in secure, certified historicalrecords or logs, such as records of the environmental conditions inenvironments 112. In principle, the information stored by the one ormore of computers 120 may be protected. However, in some embodiments,users of environmental monitoring devices 110 or entities associatedwith environmental monitoring devices 110, who, in general, control howtheir data is used and shared, instruct environmental monitoring devices110 to provide, via the mesh network, information to the one or more ofcomputers 120 that allows the one or more of computers 120 to unprotectthe stored inputs and outputs. (Alternatively or additionally, the usersor the entities may provide such authorization to the one or more ofcomputers 120 using one or more of electronic devices 108.) Similarly,in response to requests from authorized recipients (e.g., from one ofservice-provider electronic devices 118) for inputs and outputs, such asthe sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, the one or more ofcomputers 120 may provide access to the stored sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data. If the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor datais protected, the associated ones of environmental monitoring devices110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronicdevices 118 may provide protection information to the one or more ofcomputers 120 that allows the one or more of computers 120 to unprotectthe sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data.

Note that the components in FIG. 1 may be associated with a variety ofentities, including: individuals, organizations, for-profit companies,non-profit companies, and/or governmental agencies. In particular, theentities associated with at least some of environmental monitoringdevices 110 may include users or owners of environmental monitoringdevices 110 (which are henceforth referred to as ‘user entities’).Alternatively or additionally, the user entities may also be associatedwith environments 112, such as: a tenant of an apartment or a building(which may be encompassed within one of environments 112), a hotelguest, a property owner (such as a landlord) of an apartment or abuilding, maintenance personnel that help maintain one or more ofenvironments 112, and/or a property manager of one or more ofenvironments 112. In some embodiments, at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 are owned by different entities than the entitiesassociated with environments 112 (which are henceforth referred to as‘third-party owner entities’). In these embodiments, a user entity mayrent one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 from thethird-party owner entities and/or may pay for a service facilitated bythe one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110. As notedpreviously, at least some of environmental monitoring devices 110 may beprovided by or fabricated by the provider of the system, and at leastsome of computers 120 may be operated by or on behalf of the provider ofthe system.

Moreover, some of electronic devices 114 (such as electronic device114-2, which may be a regulator device) may be associated with one ormore so-called ‘regulator entities,’ such as one that provides aregulation service in which an environmental condition in one ofenvironments 112 is modified or changed. Partner electronic devices 116may be associated with ‘partner entities’ that are partners of theprovider of the system. A partner electronic device may provide sensordata, analyzed sensor data, sub-services and/or services to othercomponents in FIG. 1 that are associated with the provider of the systembased on a pre-defined business relationship or agreement with theprovider of the system (and, thus, may not need to be directlycompensated via outputs from the recipient components or othercomponents that manage services in FIG. 1). Alternatively oradditionally, at least some of partner electronic devices 116 mayinclude modules and/or sensors on behalf of the provider of the system,which may allow these partner electronic devices to monitor and providesensor data and/or analyzed sensor data to other components in thesystem.

Furthermore, service-provider electronic devices 118 may be associatedwith service providers. In contrast with partner entities, serviceproviders may provide sensor data, analyzed sensor data, sub-services,goods and/or services to other components in FIG. 1 in exchange forcompensation, which may be directly communicated via outputs from therecipient component or other components that manages services in FIG. 1.For example, the service providers may include: a maintenance service(which can repair or clean at least a portion of one or more ofenvironments 112), an installation service (which can install equipmentin one or more of environments 112), a retail service (which can provideor deliver a product to one or more of environments 112, such assuppliers of components or spare parts), an insurance carrier, a utility(which may customize services, insurance coverage or billing based on auser's utility usage pattern), and/or an emergency-monitoring service(which can provide an alert about one or more of environments 112 or cancontact emergency services or a 911 dispatcher to send the police,ambulance and/or fire department to one or more of environments 112). Insome embodiments, the service providers include insurance companies orinsurance brokers that can provide insurance for: items in one or moreof environments 112, a portion of one or more of environments 112,and/or one or more of environments 112.

Note that the entities associated with different components in FIG. 1may be different from each other. However, in some embodiments at leastsome of the entities associated with different components in FIG. 1 arethe same (thus, the provider of the system may also provide at leastsome of environmental monitoring devices 110). Moreover, in general,environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 may: provide sensor data,refine or analyze sensor data (which may be acquired by the sameelectronic device or may, at least in part, be received from anothercomponent in the system), and/or provide services or sub-services in theservices. Thus, the roles of the electronic devices associated with thedifferent entities in the system of FIG. 1 may, at least for some of thecomponents, overlap each other.

Components in FIG. 1 may allow a variety of services to be offered tothe user entities, to the service providers and/or third parties (suchas realtors, leasing agents, businesses, organizations, governments orgovernmental agencies, potential buyers of physical objects, a shippingor transportation company, etc.). As described below with reference toFIGS. 26 and 27, one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (such asenvironmental monitoring device 110-1) may provide a service in responseto an alert. In particular, if, based on sensor data provided by asensor mechanism in environmental monitoring device 110-1, environmentalmonitoring device 110-1 determines the alert (such as an alertassociated with the occurrence of an environmental condition in and/orassociated with environment 112-1 that includes environmental monitoringdevice 110-1), environmental monitoring device 110-1 may provide aservice offer to one of electronic devices 108 that is associated with auser entity. This service offer may include information associated withthe environmental condition. For example, the service offer may indicatethat there is an alert available for environment 112-1. Then, ifenvironmental monitoring device 110-1 receives a response thatauthorizes the service, environmental monitoring device 110-1 mayperform the service.

Note that the service may include providing the alert, such as via oneof electronic devices 108 (e.g., on a display, using speakers and, moregenerally, on a physiological output device that provides sensoryinformation). Thus, a user entity may be alerted if a legacy electronicdevice in an environment is not functioning properly. For example,environmental monitoring device 110-1 may include one or more sensorsthat monitor the environmental condition in environment 112-1 (such asan acoustic signal from a legacy electronic device, e.g., a fire orcarbon-monoxide detector, which indicates a failing battery). Moregenerally, the service may provide feedback that indicates the presenceof an environmental condition in environment 112-1, such as: thepresence of an allergen, the presence of mold, excess moisture orhumidity, flooding in a room or building, the presence of radon, achemical contaminant, poor air quality, cleanliness of a room (e.g., ahotel room), a chemical contaminant, an infestation (e.g., bed bugs,insects or rodents), a pluming problem (e.g., low water pressure or theacoustic signature of an impending pipe failure), a radiator problem,high winds (e.g., an approaching hurricane or a tornado), flooding or aflood warning for a region external to the external environment, extremeweather (e.g., very low temperatures or a blizzard), a power outage (orconditions that may result in a power outage), fire, etc. In someembodiments, determining the alert involves comparing a measured sensorvalue to a threshold or target value of the environmental conditionand/or computing a derived value of a parameter that is a function ofthe sensor value, such as a statistical or probabilistic analysis of howlikely an alarm output by a legacy electronic device is likely to beassociated with an occurrence of an environmental condition, e.g., afire, based on historical alarm occurrence data for one or more ofelectronic devices 114 in one or more of environments 112).

Alternatively or additionally, the service may include regulating ormaintaining the environmental condition in environment 112-1 byproviding an instruction to a regulator device in environment 112-1. Forexample, the regulator device may maintain the environmental conditionin environment 112-1 (such as temperature, humidity, an illuminationpattern, etc.) based on a medical condition of an individual (such as anallergy, a chemical sensitivity, a light sensitivity or an illuminationpreference, an illness, a chronic disease, etc.). In particular, theinstruction may modify an operating condition of a regulator device(such as electronic device 114-2, e.g., a thermostat, a heater, an airconditioner, a humidifier, an air purifier or an air filter, aventilator device or a fan, a window opener, a door opener, etc.) thatregulates the environmental condition. The modified operating conditionmay be based on a comparison of the sensor data and a target value ofthe environmental condition in environment 112-1 (which may bedetermined based on the medical condition). Moreover, the modifiedoperation condition may include a control signal for the regulatordevice. Note that the medical condition of an individual can include apsychological comforting effect (e.g., warming up a room before the userenters it), or even a placebo effect in which the environmental factorhas no known benefits (and may even have drawbacks or random effects)according to scientific studies, but by making a user more comfortable,the modified environmental factor(s) provides psychological comfort tothe user (which can be categorized as a form of placebo effect).

Instead of providing the instruction, in some embodiments environmentalmonitoring device 110-1 is electrically coupled to the regulator device.Then, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may control operation of theregulator device by selectively electrically coupling power signal(s) tothe regulator device. For example, environmental monitoring device 110-1may include a switch, such as an electrically operated switch or relay,or an electromechanical component that can interrupt a circuit and/ordivert current from the regulator device. The switch may be single poleor multiple pole, and may (or may not) be make before break. Thus, theswitch may selectively switch between a closed state and an open state.Note that electrical-connection between these components may include: alight socket, a rotatable connector configured to electrically couple toa light socket, an AC power plug, an AC power socket, a multi-wireelectrical terminal, a DC power plug, a DC power socket, and/or aUSB-compatible connector. In some embodiments, electrical-connectionnodes between these components includes: male connectors, femaleconnectors and/or wires.

For example, the modified operating condition may be based on a userpreference, e.g., lowering the temperature of a bedroom before bedtime,as desired lighting conditions at a particular time of day, etc. Inparticular, the user preference may specify a threshold value for theenvironmental condition (such as a maximum temperature of 80 F or aminimum temperature of 65 F, a maximum humidity of 80% or a minimumhumidity of 30%, a maximum or a minimum concentration of a chemical oran allergen in the external environment, etc.) and, during the service,one of environmental monitoring devices 110 may directly (via a switch)or indirectly (by providing information or an instruction) electricallycouple or decouple the regulator device from a power source based on thethreshold value. In this way, the regulator device may be selectivelyactivated. Note that, while preceding discussion illustrated selectiveactivation based on a static or fixed user preference, more generally,the user preference may evolve or change as a function of time or as afunction of the environmental condition, which may allow one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 to dynamically respond to orcontrol the environmental condition.

Furthermore, the service may include providing a maintenancenotification based on the analyzed sensor data, which is associated withthe operation of one of electronic devices 114 (such as a legacyelectronic device or an electronic device that is included in a feedbackloop with one of environmental monitoring devices 110), and whichrepresents an environmental condition in one of environments 112. Forexample, the maintenance notification may include an instruction to:change a filter, perform maintenance, replace a battery, order areplacement component, etc. Based on the environmental condition,environmental monitoring device 110-1 may provide a maintenancenotification to a user entity's cellular telephone (e.g., one ofelectronic devices 108) to replace the battery or to perform anotherremedial action (such as a repair or service to be performed on one ofelectronic devices 114). Alternatively or additionally, the maintenancenotification may be provided to one of service-provider electronicdevices 118, who, at least in part, may perform the maintenance or theremedial action. Note that the maintenance notification and anysubsequent remedial action (such as a repair or service performed on oneof electronic devices 114) may be stored in a historical record or logfor environment 112-1 (such as a historical record maintained by one ormore of computers 120).

Thus, whether the user entity owns environmental monitoring device 110-1or not, they may be provided the service offer for the service (possiblyfor a fee) when the alert is determined or detected (such as based on analarm sounded by a legacy electronic device) by environmental monitoringdevice 110-1. In some embodiments, in order to perform the service,environmental monitoring device 110-1: downloads software (such as asoftware module or an application from one of computers 120) that, whenexecuted by environmental monitoring device 110-1, performs the service;and/or enables a software module that, when executed by environmentalmonitoring device 110-1, performs the service.

Components in the system may also selectively communicate the sensordata and/or the analyzed sensor data to another component based on dataprivileges of different entities. As described below with reference toFIGS. 28 and 29, one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (such asenvironmental monitoring device 110-1) may generate and then providedifferent subsets of the sensor data (and/or the analyzed sensor data)based on different data privileges of different entities. For example,different sensor data may be provided to a tenant and their landlord.This may protect the tenant's privacy, while allowing the landlord tomonitor their property for problems, such as: fire, flooding, mold,infestation, loud noise, etc. Moreover, environmental monitoring device110-1 may use the system (such as one or more of computers 120) to postdata-availability information specifying available sensor data forenvironment 112-1 (e.g., environmental monitoring device 110-1 may usethe system as a sensor-data marketplace). Then, environmental monitoringdevice 110-1 may receive requests for at least some of the sensor datafrom one or more of electronic devices 108, other environmentalmonitoring devices, partner electronic devices 116 and/orservice-provider electronic devices 118. These requests may explicitlyinclude the data privileges of the different entities, or may implicitlyspecify the data privileges (e.g., based on the type of data requestedor based on the requestor if the request comes from an entity other thanthe user entity or user entities of environmental monitoring device110-1). In response, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may generateand provide the different subsets of the sensor data. In someembodiments, a user entity defines or specifies the data privileges, sothat a security-monitoring company has access to a subset of the sensordata, while an insurance company does not have access to the subset ofthe sensor data.

Note that the data privileges may vary as a function of: time, and/orthe environmental condition. For example, a landlord may have access tomore sensor data at times of day when a tenant is not at home or whenthere is a fire or a potential emergency (and, more generally, anoccurrence of the environmental condition). Moreover, the dataprivileges may specify: different spatial extents in environment 112-1monitored by environmental monitoring device 110-1 (e.g., the landlordmay only have access to sensor data acquired within a region that isproximate to environmental monitoring device 110-1, such as within 10ft, in the kitchen or near the furnace, while the tenant may have accessto sensor data acquired throughout environment 112-1, such as a housethe tenant rents); and/or different types of information associated withenvironment 112-1 (e.g., the landlord may have access to sensor dataassociated operation of utilities, heat, air conditioning, and otherservices, as well as sensor data associated with emergencies, such aslife-threatening events or events that could damage environment 112-1,while the tenant may have access to a broader variety of sensor data,such as sensor data the represents temperature, humidity, allergens,lighting conditions, monitoring of a child, etc.).

The system may also allow subcontracting for sensor data that enables aservice. As described below with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31, one ofcomputers 120 (such as computer 120-1) may receive a request for aservice associated with one of environments 112 (such as environment112-1) and, in response, may subcontract for the sensor data thatenables the service. In particular, computer 120-1 may identify one ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (such as environmental monitoringdevice 110-1) based on the requested service, a type of sensor dataand/or analyzed sensor data. For example, if the requested serviceinvolves regulating concentrations of an allergen or a chemical inenvironment 112-1, computer 120-1 may access stored information aboutthe capabilities of environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116, and/or service-provider electronic devices 118in environment 112-1, and based on these capabilities may identify oneor more components that include sensor mechanisms capable of measuringthe allergen or the chemical. Alternatively, if the service includesinsurance on an item in environment 112-1, computer 120-1 may determineor may access predetermined risk mechanisms that can adversely impactthe item (and, thus, which can degrade its value), including theenvironment at or near the location where the item is stored. Based onthe risk mechanisms, computer 120-1 may determine types of sensor dataand/or analyzed sensor data that can provide feedback about theoccurrence of different risk mechanisms. Then, computer 120-1 may accessthe stored information about the capabilities of one or more componentsin the system to match these capabilities with the necessary sensoryand/or computational capabilities in environment 112-1 for determiningthe risk mechanisms.

Next, computer 120-1 may provide a data request(s) for the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data to the identified environmentalmonitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or service-providerelectronic devices in environment 112-1. In response to the datarequest(s), computer 120-1 may receive (either once, during a timeinterval, such as a week, a month, six months, etc., or on an ongoingbasis) the requested sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data fromone or more of these components, and computer 120-1 may provide(possibly in conjunction with one or more additional components in thesystem) the requested service (such as one of the services describedpreviously). In some embodiments, if the necessary sensor data and/oranalyzed sensor data is unavailable in environment 120-1, computer 120-1provides instructions to one or more of the identified environmentalmonitoring devices, partner electronic devices and/or service-providerelectronic devices in environment 112-1 to download software (or anapplication) and/or to activate a previously installed program module,so that these components can provide the necessary sensor data and/orthe analyzed sensor data that is used to provide the service.

Alternatively, as described below with reference to FIGS. 32 and 33, ina variation on the preceding example, the system may subcontract forsensor data and/or analyzed sensor data that enable the service inresponse to an alert associated with environment 112-1 (as opposed to inresponse to a request for the service). In these embodiments, afteridentifying the one or more environmental monitoring devices, partnerelectronic devices and/or service-provider electronic devices that canprovide the necessary sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data,computer 120-1 may provide a service offer to the user entity associatedwith environment 112-1. This service offer may include informationassociated with the environmental condition. For example, the serviceoffer may indicate that the humidity or the temperature in environment112-1 is excessive, and may offer to regulate or modify the humidity orthe temperature (such as by instructing or selectively turning on aregulator device). If the user entity authorizes the service, computer120-1 may provide the data request and, after receiving the requestedsensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, may provide the service.

Moreover, components in the system may be used to dynamically provide aservice (such as insurance). As described below with reference to FIGS.34 and 35, one of computers 120 (such as computer 120-1) may receivesensor data from environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116 and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 inenvironments 112, which may include current and/or historical sensordata representing the environmental conditions in environments 112. Thissensor data may be analyzed to determine the probability of theenvironmental condition (such as flooding or a fire) occurring during atime interval (such as a day, a week, a month, a year, etc.) in at leastone of the environments (such as environment 112-1). In particular, theprobability may be determined from the ratio of the number ofoccurrences during a first time interval (such as a week or a month) inenvironments 112 and the total number of possible occurrences (such asthe number of environments 112), divided by the number of environments,and times a ratio of a second time interval (such as a month or a year)and the first time interval.

Moreover, computer 120-1 may calculate the price-duration range of theinsurance associated with the environmental condition (such as insurancefor flood damage, fire damage, theft, etc.) in environment 112-1necessary for profitability of the insurance (on a statistical or anabsolute basis) based on the determined probability and the estimatedcost associated with the insurance. For example, given fixed andvariable costs associated with a type of insurance in environment 112-1(such as property insurance) and the probability (i.e., the likelihoodof having to pay a claim), computer 120-1 may calculate a range ofprices (or premiums) and durations of the insurance necessary forprofitability of the insurance (at least on a statistical basis, such asa 50, 75, 90, 95 or 99% confidence of profitability, where theconfidence percentage may be based on a size of a population of userentities that have or contract for the insurance). Thus, a lower (orhigher) price may be associated with a shorter (or longer) duration, anda higher (or lower) price may be associated with a lower (or higher)probability. Alternatively or additionally, computer 120-1 may assessthe impact of one or more environmental factors (and, more generally,the environmental condition) on the quality and/or value of a physicalobject associated with environment 112-1. For example, computer 120-1may determine a risk metric for the physical object by comparing thesensor data in different environments 112. This risk metric may be usedto calculate a financial value, such as a commercial value of thephysical object. Then, based on a minimum acceptable commercial value ofthe physical object and the probability, the price-duration range may bedetermined so that the insurance compensates an owner of the physicalobject if the commercial value drops below the minimum acceptablecommercial value. In some embodiments, the sensor data is used to assessthe safety of one or more high-value items, e.g., artwork, antiques,wine, rare instruments, and other items that can be sensitive to light,heat, humidity and, more generally, environmental conditions. Based onsensor data for ultraviolet exposure, temperature, and/or humidity in astorage area for the one or more high-value items, the probability andthe price-duration range can be calculated.

Next, computer 120-1 may provide a service offer (with at least a priceor an insurance premium and a duration) for the insurance to one ofelectronic devices 108 associated with a user entity (such as electronicdevice 108-1). Alternatively, the service offer may include multiplepairs of prices and durations based on the calculated price-durationrange, which may allow the user entity to select, a la carte, thedesired service. (Thus, the service offer may oblige the user entity tocontinue the insurance for the duration, e.g., the user entity may haveto pay the price in advance or there may be a penalty for earlycancellation of the insurance.) Note that the insurance may cover: anitem in one of environments 112, a portion of one of environments 112,an individual inhabiting or who is in one of environments 112, and/orone of environments 112.

If computer 120-1 subsequently receives a response from electronicdevice 108-1 authorizing the insurance (and, more generally, theservice) at a particular price and/or duration, computer 120-1 maysubsequently (directly or indirectly, such as in conjunction with aservice provider) provide the insurance. For example, the response maybe received from electronic device 108-1 with or without action by theuser entity (e.g., in some embodiments an application executing onelectronic device 108-1 dynamically authorizes the insurance on behalfof the user, such as when there is a high risk of fire or flooding, orwhen environment 112-1 is included in a Federal disaster area). Notethat the insurance may be based on subsequent sensor data received fromenvironmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116and/or service-provider electronic devices 118 in environments 112 (or,at least, in environment 112-1). In particular, the insurance may beselectively provided based on one or more occurrences of theenvironmental condition (e.g., when there is a risk of flooding, firedamage, high or low temperatures, high or low humidity, etc.).Therefore, the duration may include or may encompass one or moreoccurrences of the environmental condition. In addition, the subsequentsensor data received from environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116, and/or service-provider electronic devices 118in environments 112 may be used by computer 120-1 to dynamically updatethe calculated probability and/or the price-duration range, which mayallow computer 120-1 to modify the insurance (such as to change theprice, the duration, a deductible, etc.).

In some embodiments, computer 120-1 provides a data request foradditional sensor data to environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116, and/or service-provider electronic devices 118in environments 112 (or, at least, environment 112-1), and the insurance(and, more generally, the service) is provided based on the additionalsensor data (which may have been collected after the initial sensor datathat was used to determine the probability and/or the price-durationrange). For example, the additional sensor data may represent another(related) environmental condition (such as humidity or barometricpressure), which can be used to improve the determined estimate of theprobability (such as the probability of flooding), as well as to updatethe price and/or the duration. Moreover, the additional sensor data mayassess or monitor whether secure or safe habits are practiced, such aslocking doors, turning on burglar alarms or home-monitoring sensors,exchanging smoke-detector batteries, etc. In addition, an insurancecompany may utilize the additional sensor data to detect, prevent and/ordeter insurance fraud. More generally, the additional sensor may provideindependent feedback about the insurance.

Additionally, the system may dynamically identify and aggregate orassemble combinations of components in the system to provide a service.As described below with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37, based on sensordata from one of more of environmental monitoring devices 110, partnerelectronic devices 116, and/or service-provider electronic devices 118in at least one of environments 112 (such as environment 112-1), one ofcomputers 120 (such as computer 120-1) may identify a combination thatprovides a service related to environment 112-1, where the combinationincludes one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 and one ormore of partner electronic devices 116 and/or the service providers. Forexample, the service may involve monitoring for fire and carbon monoxidein environment 112-1. In the identified combination, electronic device114-1 may monitor for fire, and partner electronic device 116-1 maymonitor for carbon monoxide. In addition, environmental monitoringdevice 110-1 may use an acoustic sensor to detect a sound indicatingthat a battery in electronic device 114-1 needs to be replaced. Whenthis sound is detected, environmental monitoring device 110-1 may alertservice-provider electronic device 118-1, which instructs the serviceprovider to ship a new battery to an address associated with environment112-1 and/or to install the new battery in electronic device 114-1. Insome embodiments, the service is associated with a type of the sensordata, and at least the one or more of environmental monitoring devices110 are identified based on the type of the sensor data.

After identifying the combination, computer 120-1 may communicateconfiguration information specifying the combination and functions inthe service to the one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110and the one or more of partner electronic devices 116 and/or the serviceproviders. Note that the configuration information may specifyinterrelationships among the components in the combination that define aservice-data hierarchy. In addition, the service-data hierarchy mayspecify exchange of the sensor data, sub-services in the service, andcompensation within the combination for the sensor data and thesub-services (which are sometimes collectively referred to as ‘inputsand outputs’). Moreover, at least some of the combinations specified mayprovide the services in at least a subset of environments 112 withoutaction by occupants or user entities of at least the subset ofenvironments 112.

Furthermore, the combination may be identified in response to a request,such as a request for the service, such as a request from: agovernmental organization, an insurance provider, an owner of one ormore environments 112, etc. In particular, the computer 120-1 mayreceive a request for the service from an electronic device (such aselectronic device 108-1) associated with a user entity that isassociated with environment 112-1, which is different from the providerof the system, the partners and/or the service providers. However, insome embodiments the combination is identified without a request fromthe user entity. For example, as noted previously, the computer 120-1may identify the combination: when an alert about an occurrence of theenvironmental condition in environment 112-1 is received (such as fromenvironmental monitoring device 110-1); when the environmental conditionoccurs in environment 112-1; and/or when a risk of occurrence of theenvironmental condition exceeds a threshold. Consequently, in someembodiments computer 120-1: provides a service offer for the service toelectronic device 108-1; receives a response to the service offer fromelectronic device 108-1, where the response authorizes the service; andnotifies the combination to provide the service.

Subsequently, computer 120-1 may receive additional sensor data from oneor more of environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or an additionalenvironmental monitoring device in environment 112-1. Based on theadditional sensor data, computer 120-1 may determine and then providemodification information specifying one or more modifications to thecombination. For example, the additional sensor data may indicate achange in the environmental condition or a risk metric associated withenvironment 112-1. Consequently, computer 120-1 may determine thatdifferent or additional sensors are need, and may identify different oradditional components in the system that can provide the service.Alternatively or additionally, computer 120-1 may determine revisioninformation specifying one or more revisions to the service based on theadditional sensor data, and then may modification information specifyingone or more modifications to the combination based on the one or morerevisions to the service. For example, if the additional sensor dataindicates the presence of an individual in environment 112-1 who has amedical condition or an allergy, the service may be revised to reflect adifferent threshold for the allergen or a need to monitor the allergenin environment 112-1.

One challenge associated with aggregating components associated withdifferent entities into combinations is the risk of incorrect dataand/or fraudulent behavior. This problem may be addressed by the system.In particular, as described below with reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, thesystem may identify bad sensor data and/or fraudulent payments incombinations in the ecosystem, and then may perform remedial action. Forexample, one of computers 120 (such as computer 120-1) may monitorinputs and outputs exchanged among components in combinations thatprovide services in environments 112, where the components in a givencombination include at least one of: environmental monitoring devices110 and one or more of partner electronic devices 116 and/or the serviceproviders. As noted previously, the inputs and the outputs from a givencomponent in the given combination may include: sensor data representingone or more environmental conditions in one or more of environments 112(which may be acquired by one of more of: environmental monitoringdevices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or service-providerelectronic devices 118), sub-services in the services, and/orcompensation within the given combination for the sensor data and thesub-services.

Computer 120-1 may: store the monitored inputs and outputs; analyze themonitored inputs and outputs based on quality criteria (such aspredefined signatures of failure mechanisms in the combinations thatresult in particular sensor-data values or inferred environmentalconditions as a function of time, and/or predefined signatures ofprevious fraudulent activity in the combinations) and historical inputsand outputs exchanged within the combinations; identify, based on theanalysis, an instance in the inputs and the outputs of incorrect sensordata and/or fraudulent compensation; and perform the remedial actionbased on the identified instance. For example, computer 120-1 mayidentify the instance based on a variance (such as at least a 3σdifference relative to a historical norm or mean value) in sensor data,or may detect a change relative to typical inputs and outputs at a giventime of day or day of the week. In some embodiments, the qualitycriteria and the historical inputs and outputs are used to train asupervised-learning model (using a machine-learning technique, such as:support vector machines, classification and regression trees, a neuralnetwork, logistic regression, etc.) that predicts the likelihood (withan associated confidence, such as 95 or 99% confidence) that a giveninput or output is incorrect or fraudulent. Note that the analysis maycompare the monitored inputs and outputs and historical inputs andoutputs from at least a subset of the combinations. Moreover, thecombinations in the subset may have: a common type of service, and/or acommon type of sensor data. Thus, the analysis may use techniques suchas collaborative filtering.

In response to identifying an instance, computer 120-1 may perform avariety of remedial actions. For example, the remedial action mayinclude providing a notification about the identified instance to anaffected combination. Alternatively or additionally, the remedial actionmay include providing modification information specifying a modificationto an affected combination that includes the identified instance. Inparticular, the modification may include excluding a source of theidentified instance from the affected combination, where the source mayinclude one of: environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronicdevices 116 and/or the service providers. Note that the remedial actionmay include banning the source from inclusion in subsequentcombinations. In some embodiments, the modification includes replacingthe source of the identified instance in the affected combination, wherea replacement for the source may include one of: environmentalmonitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116 and/or theservice providers that is different than the source.

Moreover, the remedial action may include: discontinuing the serviceprovided by an affected combination that includes the instance; and/oradjusting a level of the service provided by the affected combinationthat includes the instance. For example, a service that includes or thatis based on the instance may be intentionally degraded (such as delayingthe service or intentionally reducing its reported quantitative accuracyto reflect the impact of the inaccurate sensor data), which may functionas a warning or which may punish misbehavior by the source.Alternatively or additionally, the remedial action may include removingthe incorrect sensor data from the inputs and the outputs. Furthermore,the remedial action may include replacing the incorrect sensor data fromthe inputs and the outputs with modified sensor data (such asinterpolated sensor data from timestamps before and after the suspectsensor data). Additionally, the remedial action may include instructions(such as to one of the service providers) for performing maintenance onthe source of the identified instance in an affected combination (whichmay correct or eliminate the incorrect sensor data).

In addition to maintaining the quality of existing services provided inthe system, the system may also perform analysis on the inputs andoutputs to identify opportunities for improving the services and/or foroffering additional services. In particular, as described below withreference to FIGS. 40 and 41, computer 120-1 may analyze the monitoredinputs and outputs, as well as information specifying the combinationsand the services, to determine: sensor-data patterns, suggestedservices, and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during theservices and the suggested services. For example, the analysis maydetermine: purchasing patterns (of products, replacement parts and/orsensor data), recommended product features, recommended retailinventory, recommended pricing of the services and the suggestedservices, and/or recommended durations of the services and the suggestedservices. The recommendations based on the analysis may improve: thespeed of the service, the accuracy of the service (such as the accuracywith which an environmental condition is monitored), the ability toperform a service (such as the ability to monitor a particularenvironmental condition), the cost of the service, the value propositionof the service to user entities, etc.

Note that the analysis may compare current monitored inputs and outputsand historical inputs and outputs from at least a subset of thecombinations. Moreover, the combinations in the subset may have: thecommon type of service, and/or the common type of sensor data. However,in some embodiments the subset includes combinations that use differenttypes of sensor data and/or that provide different types of service. Asan illustration, metadata about the components in the combinations maybe used to relate seemingly disparate components and/or services, sothat, by these association or based on these comparisons, the servicesand/or the sensor-data sub-contracting to different sub-components canbe identified. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor-data patternsmay be used to relate the seemingly disparate components and/orservices, so that the services and/or the sensor-data sub-contracting todifferent sub-components can be identified. Based on the analysis,computer 120-1 may provide: modification information specifying amodification to the combinations; and/or a notification.

In these ways, one or more components in the system may dynamicallyprovide services to the user entities associated with environments 112based on occurrences of environmental conditions and/or alerts. Thiscapability may allow the services to be provided as needed and/or whenthe user entities want the services. Moreover, the flexibility andadaptability of the system may allow different combinations ofcomponents to be identified and dynamically aggregated in order toprovide the services. These combinations may allow sensor data andsub-services to be sub-contracted to components that are associated withdifferent entities. Furthermore, the system may allow sensor data and/oranalyzed sensor data to be selectively shared (e.g., based on dataprivileges of different entities), which may protect entity privacywhile facilitating the monitoring of the environments that is needed forthe services. Consequently, the system may provide a dynamic sensor-datamarketplace with appropriate structure. The services provided by thesystem may be improved (e.g., the services may be more cost effectivefor the user entities, incorrect data and/or fraudulent activity may beidentified and eliminated or mitigated, etc.), which may increasecustomer confidence and satisfaction with the components and/or thesystem.

Moreover, as described further below with reference to FIG. 2,environmental monitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116,service-provider electronic devices 118, computers 120 and/or optionallysome of electronic devices 114 (such as electronic device 114-2) mayinclude subsystems, such as: a networking subsystem, a memory subsystem,a processing subsystem, feedback subsystem and a sensor subsystem. Inaddition, these electronic devices may include radios 124 in thenetworking subsystems. More generally, environmental monitoring devices110, partner electronic devices 116, service-provider electronic devices118, computers 120 and/or optionally some of electronic devices 114 caninclude (or can be included within) any electronic devices withnetworking subsystems that enable wirelessly communication with anotherelectronic device. This can comprise transmitting packets or frames onwireless channels to enable the electronic devices to make initialcontact, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management frames (suchas connect requests or petitions to establish a connection or link),configuring security options (e.g., encryption on a link or in a meshnetwork), transmitting and receiving packets or frames on one or morewireless channels, etc.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, wireless signals 126 (represented by a jaggedline) are transmitted from/received by radios 124 in environmentalmonitoring devices 110, partner electronic devices 116, at least some ofservice-provider electronic devices 118, at least some of computers 120and/or optionally some of electronic devices 114. In general, wirelesscommunication among these electronic devices may or may not involve aconnection being established between the electronic devices, andtherefore may or may not involve communication via a wireless network.(Note that the communication between service-provider electronic devices118 and computers 120 may occur via network 122, which may involve wiredor optical communication with a different communication protocol thanwireless signals 126.)

Furthermore, the processing of a packet or frame in an electronic device(such as environmental monitoring device 110-1) may include: receivingwireless signals 126 with the packet or frame; decoding/extracting thepacket or frame from received wireless signals 126 to acquire the packetor frame; and processing the packet or frame to determine informationcontained in the packet or frame (such as an input to environmentalmonitoring device 110-1 and/or an output from another component in thesystem).

As noted previously, in general communication among the components inFIG. 1 may be protected. This may involve encryption using an encryptionkey (such as an encryption key associated with one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 and/or a self-contained secure channel in aprocessor in one of environmental monitoring devices 110). Theencryption key may use symmetric or asymmetric encryption techniques.Alternatively or additionally, a secure hash function (such as SHA-256)may be used. For example, the secure hash may supplement encryption thatis associated with a network interface in one or more of environmentalmonitoring devices 110.

Although we describe the environment shown in FIG. 1 as an example, inalternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronicdevices or components may be present. For example, some embodimentscomprise more or fewer electronic devices or components. Furthermore,while not shown in FIG. 1, one or more components in electronic device110 may be coupled or connected by additional signals lines or a bus.

We now describe embodiments of components in the system in FIG. 1. FIG.2 presents a block diagram illustrating electronic device 200, such asone of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1). (However, similarsubsystems and at least some of the functionality described below may beincluded in other components in FIG. 1, such as electronic devices 108,at least some of electronic devices 114, partner electronic devices 116,service-provider electronic devices 118 and/or computers 120.) Thiselectronic device includes processing subsystem 210 (and, moregenerally, an integrated circuit or a control mechanism), memorysubsystem 212, a networking subsystem 214, power subsystem 216, optionalswitching subsystem 220, optional sensor subsystem 224 (i.e., adata-collection subsystem and, more generally, a sensor mechanism) andfeedback subsystem 236. Processing subsystem 210 includes one or moredevices configured to perform computational operations and to executetechniques to process sensor data. For example, processing subsystem 210can include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/orone or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

In addition, processing subsystem 210 may include an optional securechannel that performs secure processing of information, securelycommunicates with other components in electronic device 200, and moregenerally performs secure services. This secure channel may include oneor more processors, a secure boot ROM, one or more security peripherals,and/or other components. The security peripherals may behardware-configured to assist in the secure services performed by theoptional secure channel. For example, the security peripherals mayinclude: authentication hardware implementing various authenticationtechniques, encryption hardware configured to perform encryption,secure-interface controllers configured to communicate over a secureinterface to other components, and/or other components. In someembodiments, instructions executable by the optional secure channel arestored in a trust zone in memory subsystem 212 that is assigned to theoptional secure channel, and the optional secure channel fetches theinstructions from the trust zone for execution. The optional securechannel may be isolated from the rest of processing subsystem 210 exceptfor a carefully controlled interface, thus forming a secure region forthe optional secure channel and its components. Because the interface tothe optional secure channel is carefully controlled, direct access tocomponents within the optional secure channel (such as a processor or asecure boot ROM) may be prevented. In some embodiments, the optionalsecure channel decrypts inputs and/or encrypts outputs communicated vianetworking subsystem 214, and encrypts and/or decrypts information (suchas sensor data) communicated with optional sensor subsystem 224.

Memory subsystem 212 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 210, networking subsystem214 and/or optional sensor subsystem 224. For example, memory subsystem212 can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static randomaccess memory (SRAM), and/or other types of memory. In some embodiments,instructions for processing subsystem 210 in memory subsystem 212include one or more program modules 232 or sets of instructions, whichmay be executed in an operating environment (such as operating system234) by processing subsystem 210. Note that the one or more computerprograms may constitute a computer-program mechanism or a programmodule. Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memorysubsystem 212 may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language,an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly ormachine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiledor interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be usedinterchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by processingsubsystem 210.

In addition, memory subsystem 212 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin electronic device 200. In some of these embodiments, one or more ofthe caches is located in processing subsystem 210.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 212 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 212 can be used by electronic device 200as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storagedevice is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem 214 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or wireless network(i.e., to perform network operations and, more generally,communication), including an interface circuit 228 (such as a ZigBee®communication circuit) and one or more optional antennas 230. Forexample, networking subsystem 214 may include: a ZigBee® networkingsubsystem, a Bluetooth™ networking system (which can include Bluetooth™Low Energy, BLE or Bluetooth™ LE), a cellular networking system (e.g., a3G/4G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networking system, anetworking system based on the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g.,a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernet networking system, an infra-redcommunication system, a power-line communication system and/or anothercommunication system (such as a near-field-communication system or anad-hoc-network networking system).

Moreover, networking subsystem 214 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking or communication system. Note that mechanisms used forcoupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on thenetwork for each network system are sometimes collectively referred toas a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in someembodiments a ‘network’ between the electronic devices does not yetexist. Therefore, electronic device 200 may use the mechanisms innetworking subsystem 214 for performing simple wireless communicationbetween electronic device 200 and other electronic devices, e.g.,transmitting advertising frames, petitions, beacons and/or informationassociated with near-field communication.

Moreover, electronic device 200 may include power subsystem 216 with oneor more power sources 218. Each of these power sources may include: abattery (such as a rechargeable or a non-rechargeable battery), a DCpower supply, a transformer, and/or a switched-mode power supply.Moreover, the one or more power sources 218 may operate in avoltage-limited mode or a current-limited mode. Furthermore, these powersources may be mechanically and electrically coupled by a male or femaleadaptor to: a wall or electrical-outlet socket or plug (such as a two orthree-pronged electrical-outlet plug, which may be collapsible orretractable), a light socket (or light-bulb socket), electrical wiring(such as a multi-wire electrical terminal), a generator, a USB port orconnector, a DC-power plug or socket, a cellular-telephone chargercable, a photodiode, a photovoltaic cell, etc. This mechanical andelectrical coupling may be rigid or may be remateable. Note that the oneor more power sources 218 may be mechanically and electrically coupledto an external power source or another electronic device by one of theelectrical-connection nodes in switch 246 in optional switchingsubsystem 220.

In some embodiments, power subsystem 216 includes or functions as apass-through power supply for one or more electrical connectors to anexternal electronic device (such as an appliance or a regulator device)that can be plugged into the one or more electrical connectors. Power tothe one or more electrical connectors (and, thus, the externalelectronic device) may be controlled locally by processing subsystem210, optional switching subsystem 220 (such as by switch 246), and/orremotely via networking subsystem 214.

Furthermore, optional sensor subsystem 224 may include one or moresensor devices 226 (or a sensor array), which may include one or moreprocessors and memory. For example, the one or more sensor devices 226may include: a thermal sensor (such as a thermometer), a humiditysensor, a barometer, a camera or video recorder (such as a CCD or CMOSimaging sensor), one or more microphones (which may be able to recordacoustic information, including acoustic information in an audio band offrequencies, in mono or stereo), a load-monitoring sensor or anelectrical-characteristic detector (and, more generally, a sensor thatmonitors one or more electrical characteristics), an infrared sensor(which may be active or passive), a microscope, a particle detector(such as a detector of dander, pollen, dust, exhaust, etc.), anair-quality sensor, a particle sensor, an optical particle sensor, anionization particle sensor, a smoke detector (such as an optical smokedetector or an ionizing smoke detector), a fire-detection sensor, aradon detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, a chemical sensor ordetector, a volatile-organic-compound sensor, a combustible gas sensor,a utility-usage sensor, an Internet-usage sensor, a wireless-networkusage sensor, a burglar-alarm sensor, a voltmeter, an ammeter, achemical-analysis device, a mass spectrometer, a microanalysis device, anano-plasmonic sensor, a genetic sensor (such as a micro-array), anaccelerometer, a forced-entry detector, a break-in detector, a detectorthat measures a parameter associated with an emotional state or a moodof an individual, a position or a location sensor (such as a locationsensor based on the Global Positioning System or GPS), a gyroscope, amotion sensor (such as a light-beam sensor), an ambient-light sensor, acontact sensor, a strain sensor (such as a strain gauge), a pressuresensor, a proximity sensor, a microwave/radar sensor (which may beactive or passive), an ultrasound sensor, a vibration sensor, a fluidflow sensor, a photo-detector, a Geiger counter, a radio-frequencyradiation detector, and/or another device that measures a physicaleffect or that characterizes an environmental factor or physicalphenomenon (either directly or indirectly). Note that the one or moresensor devices 226 may include redundancy (such as multiple instances ofa type of sensor device) to address sensor failure or erroneousreadings, to provide improved accuracy and/or to provide improvedprecision.

During operation of electronic device 200, processing subsystem 210 mayexecute one or more program modules 232, such as an environmentalmonitoring application. In particular, environmental monitoringapplication may instruct one or more sensor devices 226 to measure oracquire sensor data that represents one or more environmental conditionsin an environment that includes electronic device 200 (which issometimes referred to as an ‘external environment’). For example, theenvironmental condition may include: presence of an individual (such asa resident or a potential burglar), opening of a door, an individualgetting out of bed, an individual waking up, an individual crying, anindividual tossing and turning in bed, an individual shivering, presenceof a chemical compound (such as exhaust, carbon monoxide, radon, smoke,a non-volatile organic compound and/or a volatile organic compound),presence of an allergen (such as dander or pollen), presence of dust,presence of a fungus, a fire, presence of smoke, flooding, a water leak,a chemical leak, presence of an insect or rodent (and, more generally,an infestation), discharge of a firearm, a possible altercation orcriminal act (such as domestic violence), a medical emergency, a changein health condition of an individual, availability of electrical power(such as whether there is a power failure), a lighting condition (suchas whether the lights are on or off), temperature deviating from apredefined target, and/or humidity deviating from a predefined target.In some embodiments, the environmental condition is associated with theoperation of a regulator device (which may or may not be a legacyelectronic device). The regulator device (and, more generally, one ofelectronic devices 114 in FIG. 1) may include: a smoke detector, athermostat, a carbon-monoxide detector, an appliance, a pet or animalfeeder, a plant or animal watering device, a clock, a security alarm, ahumidifier, an air filter, a switch, a light, etc. Note that themonitoring of the sensor data may be continuous, periodic (such as aftera time interval has elapsed) or as needed (such as event-drivenmonitoring).

Alternatively or additionally, instead of measuring the sensor datausing optional sensor subsystem 224 or in conjunction with the measuredsensor data from optional sensor subsystem 224, electronic device 200may receive the sensor data from another electronic device (such as oneof partner electronic devices 116 in FIG. 1) that includes one or moresensor devices that are similar to sensor devices 226. In particular,the sensor data may be received from the other electronic device usingnetworking subsystem 214. (Similarly, electronic device 200 maycommunicate the sensor data to another component in FIG. 1 usingnetworking subsystem 214 for analysis and/or for use in implementing asub-service or a service.)

The measured and/or the received sensor data may be communicated toprocessing subsystem 210. Then, the environmental monitoring applicationmay optionally analyze the sensor data, such as: calculating a discreteor a Fourier transform, determining a histogram, performing filtering orsignal processing, performing data compression, calibrating one or moreof sensor devices 226, managing power consumption of electronic device200, identifying one or more of sensor devices 226 that are not workingor which are outputting erroneous sensor data, applying anothertransformation, converting data from one format to another, calculatingstatistics (such as moments of a distribution), performing supervisedlearning (such as Bayesian analysis), performing noise reduction,normalizing the sensor data, scaling the sensor data, partitioning thesensor data, aggregating or compiling the sensor data, converting units,etc. (Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data or a documentsummarizing the sensor data may be communicated to another electronicdevice using networking subsystem 214 and the analysis may be performedremotely, e.g. by one of computers 120 in FIG. 1.) For example, theanalysis may determine whether an environmental condition is present inthe environment. In some embodiments, this analysis is based oninformation, such as sensor data and/or environmental conditions,received from other environmental monitoring devices. This may allowcalibration settings, such as environment-specific threshold values, tobe determined for the environment and/or electronic device 200.(Alternatively or additionally, the calibration settings may be manuallyset by a user entity or by software that implements a calibrationtechnique.) In addition, the analysis may be based on information fromexternal data sources, such as datasets of weather and environmentalphenomena, e.g., tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, weatherforecasts, etc.

Then, the environmental monitoring application may provide feedback to auser entity associated with electronic device 200 (such as to one ofelectronic devices 108 in FIG. 1) and/or directly to one of electronicdevices 114 in FIG. 1 (if this electronic device is able to communicatewith electronic device 200 via networking subsystem 214). In particular,the environmental monitoring application may instruct feedback subsystem236 to provide sensory information, such as; a text or graphicalmessage, a graph, a report, a chart, a spectrum, a video displayed on adisplay 240, a sound or audio message (such as an alert) output byoptional speakers 242 and/or an illumination pattern output by optionallight sources 244. For example, the sensory information may include: arange of values, numerical measurements, shades of gray (or grayscale),colors, chemical formulas, images, illumination patterns, textures,patterns (which may correspond to one or more environmental conditions),tessellations with gradients of larger or smaller element sizes, and/ortessellations of increasing or decreasing element sizes (such astessellation that are adjusted to be larger or smaller as a givenenvironmental condition increases or decreases). Thus, in someembodiments the sensory information includes a change in the color ofelectronic device 200. Alternatively or additionally, the feedback mayinclude a change in the illumination pattern provided by optional lightsources 244. In some embodiments, the feedback is communicated usingnetworking subsystem 214 and presented to the user entity (or otherindividuals) on another electronic device, such as one of electronicdevices 108 in FIG. 1 (e.g., a user's cellular telephone, tabletcomputer or computer) that is used for remote visualization of: thesensor data, the analyzed sensor data, the environmental conditionand/or the feedback.

For example, in response to an environmental condition, a potentialthreat or an actual threat, electronic device 200 may provide or outputan alert, which may include audible sound (or feedback) in theenvironment and/or information that is wirelessly communicated to one ormore electronic devices (such as one of electronic devices 108 in FIG.1). There may be different types of alerts (such as different warningsounds, lights, messages, etc.) for different environmental conditionsor as the severity of one or more environmental conditions changes.Additionally, electronic device 200 may output or provide more than onealert at the same time. Note that electronic device 200 may provide oroutput an alert that was received from another electronic device (suchas one of partner electronic devices 116 in FIG. 1).

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring application mayprovide, via networking subsystem 214, the feedback to one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1), partner electronicdevices 116 (FIG. 1), service-provider electronic devices 118 (FIG. 1),computers 120 (FIG. 1) and/or other electronic devices (such ascomputers or servers associated with or operated on behalf of: componentsuppliers, retailers, insurance companies, security personnel, emergencyservice personnel, utilities, maintenance organizations, shippingcompanies, landlords or property owners, a corporate-complianceorganization, inspectors, businesses, government agencies, etc.). Forexample, the environmental monitoring application may utilize a ShortMessage Service, email, a social network and/or a messaging service witha restricted number of characters per message. Alternatively oradditionally, the feedback may be posted to a web page or website (and,more generally, a location on a network), and one or more recipients maybe notified via networking subsystem 214, e.g., a link to the locationon the network may be provided to the recipients.

In turn, an authorized entity may use an electronic device (such as oneof electronic devices 108 in FIG. 1) may, via networking subsystem 214,modify settings of electronic device 200 (such as alarm settings, userpreferences, etc.) that change how the feedback is provided locally(e.g., using optional speakers 242) and/or remotely (e.g., usingnetworking subsystem 214), and which more generally change one or morefunctions of electronic device 200. For example, a user of electronicdevice 108-1 in FIG. 1 may access a web page associated with a providerof electronic device 200 or the system to modify one or more settings,such as to disable the providing of alerts or feedback.

When the providing of the alert is disabled, processing subsystem 210may continue to assess a potentially threatening environmental condition(such as the possible presence of smoke or carbon monoxide) based onsubsequent sensor data and, if the threat is increasing (such as if theconcentration of carbon monoxide is increasing or has become dangerous),may reactivate the providing of the alert. Alternatively, after a timeinterval (such as 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes), the modified alert settingmay automatically revert to the original alert setting, so thatelectronic device 200 can provide alerts again. In some, embodiments, auser subsequently changes the modified alert setting back to theoriginal alert setting or resets the alert setting to default. Thus,electronic device 200 may continue to assess the impact of one or moreenvironmental factors (and, more generally, the environmental condition)on the safety of the environment, while also providing a useroperational control over alerts. In addition, electronic device 200 mayprovide fail-safes, both in how alerts are disabled and by reactivatingalerts in case the threat is increasing.

In some embodiments, processing subsystem 210 performs a remedial actionin response to an alert or an alarm (i.e., based on one or moreenvironmental conditions). This remedial action may includecommunicating with a regulator device to correct the environmentalcondition(s). For example, via networking subsystem 214, processingsubsystem 210 may instruct the regulator device to: ventilate the area,activate a humidifier, power on or power off a regulator device,initiate the operation of a mode on a regulator device, etc. In someembodiments, this same function (and, more generally, the remedialaction) is performed without directly communicating with the regulatordevice by changing a state of switch 246 in optional switching subsystem220. Alternatively, processing subsystem 210 may provide a maintenancenotification (such as a notification to change an air filter).Furthermore, the alert may indicate a remedial action, such as positiveor negative changes that can restore the environmental condition to asafe value. Thus, the alert may indicate that a user should turn on theventilation or wear a safety mask when painting or vacuuming, and/or mayencourage the user to stop applying a chemical product (such as paint)or to slow down the rate of application.

Furthermore, the one or more program modules 232 may include amaintenance application. This maintenance application may provide amaintenance notification related to the operation of electronic device200, one of the other components in FIG. 1 and/or one or moreenvironmental conditions in the environment. For example, themaintenance application may provide an instruction to: performmaintenance, replace a battery (and, more generally, one of powersources 218), replace one of the one or more sensor devices 226, orderanother replacement component (such as a filter) and/or to take out thegarbage. When providing the maintenance notification, the maintenanceapplication may instruct feedback subsystem 236 to present themaintenance notification to the user entity, maintenance personnel or aservice provider, and/or may instruct networking subsystem 214 tocommunicate the maintenance notification to another electronic device,such as a user entity's cellular telephone. In some embodiments,maintenance application suggests or recommends a specific serviceprovider or product to address or perform a remedial action in responseto a maintenance notification. Alternatively, maintenance applicationmay direct a user to a document (such as a web page or website) thatincludes information related to a maintenance notification.

Note that the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be stored,at least temporarily, in a data structure in memory subsystem 212. Inparticular, the data structure may include entries with: sensor data,timestamps, locations, optional analyzed sensor data and/orenvironmental conditions. (More generally, memory subsystem 212 maystore inputs to and/or outputs from components in the system of FIG. 1.)Note that the locations (or location information) may specify locationswere the sensor data was acquired or measured and/or may includepointers to locations were the sensor data (and, more generally, inputsand/or outputs) are stored. For example, the location information may bemeasured using a sensor device in electronic device 200 (such as alocation monitor) and/or the location information may be received fromanother electronic device that is proximate to electronic device 200 inFIG. 2 (such as a user's cellular telephone that is within 1-10 m).Thus, the location may be determined via GPS and/or a cellular-telephonenetwork (e.g., triangulation or trilateration).

Moreover, the one or more program modules 232 may include a data-sharingapplication. This data-sharing application may enable a designated orauthorized recipient to access protected sensor data that is stored onarchive device, such as one of computers 120 (FIG. 1). In particular,when executed by processing subsystem 210, the data-sharing applicationmay instruct optional sensor subsystem 224 to measure or collect sensordata that represents the environmental condition. Then, the data-sharingapplication may protect the sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. Forexample, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may beencrypted using an encryption key by processing subsystem 210 and/oroptional secure channel 222. Alternatively or additionally, the sensordata and/or the analyzed sensor data may be protected using a securehash function in conjunction with an identifier of electronic device 200and/or a random (or pseudorandom) number generated by processingsubsystem 210. Next, data-sharing application may instruct networkingsubsystem 214 to provide the protected sensor data and/or the analyzedsensor data to at least one of computers 120 (FIG. 1).

Subsequently, when electronic device 200 receives, via networkingsubsystem 214, a request for the sensor data from data-sharingelectronic device 118 (FIG. 1), the data-sharing application may accessa predefined authorization preference of a user of electronic device 200that is stored in memory subsystem 212. If the predefined authorizationpreference of the user authorizes the recipient associated with therequest, the data-sharing application may provide, via networkingsubsystem 214, authorization information to at least one of computers120 (FIG. 1) to release the sensor data to one of electronic devices 108(FIG. 1). Alternatively, the data-sharing application may instruct afeedback subsystem 236 to request feedback about the request from theuser. This user feedback may be received via an optional user interface248 (FIG. 1). If the user feedback approves the request, thedata-sharing application may provide, via networking subsystem 214,authorization information to one of electronic devices 108 (FIG. 1) torelease the sensor data to at least the one of electronic devices 108(FIG. 1). (Thus, the user of electronic device 200 may control whenother parties are allowed to access the sensor data.) Note that thedata-sharing application may also provide, via networking subsystem 214,protection information specifying how to unprotect the sensor data to atleast the one of electronic devices 108 (FIG. 1) and/or to at least oneof computers 120 (FIG. 1). For example, the data-sharing application mayprovide the encryption key and/or may indicate the secure hash function,the random (or pseudorandom) number and/or the identifier. In someembodiments, this protection information is received from the user ofelectronic device 200, e.g., via networking subsystem 214 and/oroptional user interface 248.

In some embodiments, the data-sharing application selectively providesor shares different subsets of the sensor data (or analyzed sensor data)to different entities based on data privileges of these entities. Forexample, the environmental monitoring application may generate subsetsof the sensor data based on data privileges of different entities, andthen, via networking subsystem 214, the data-sharing application mayprovide the subsets of the sensor data to electronic devices associatedwith the entities (such as one or more user entities, partner entitiesand/or service providers). Note that the data privileges may specify:different spatial extents in the external environment monitored by thesensor mechanism (such as monitoring of different regions in anapartment or a building at different times of day to protect tenantprivacy); and/or different types of information associated with theexternal environment (thus, a tenant may monitor and access differenttypes of information than a landlord, e.g., information about a sleepingchild versus information about the operation of a heating or anair-conditioning system). In addition, the data-sharing application maypost data-availability information specifying available sensor data forthe external environment. As described further below, thedata-availability information may enable subcontracting for sensor dataand/or the dynamic aggregation of sensor data, partner entities and/orservice providers to provide services. In particular, in response to arequest for at least some of the sensor data from another entity (suchas a partner entity or a service provider), which is received vianetworking subsystem 214, the data-sharing application optionallygenerates (if the requested subset of the sensor data does not alreadyexist in memory subsystem 212) and then provides a subset of the sensordata to the other entity via networking subsystem 214.

Moreover, the one or more program modules 232 may include a serviceapplication that allows environmental monitoring device to, directly orindirectly, selectively (and, thus, dynamically) enable or provide aservice (such as on a per-alert basis or as needed). In particular,alone or in conjunction with one of the preceding program modules, thisservice application may selectively enable the providing of the servicein response to an alert associated with and/or indicating an occurrenceof the environmental condition in the environment. When one or more ofsensor devices 226 measures or acquires sensor data that represents oneor more environmental conditions in the external environment, theenvironmental monitoring application may determine, based on the sensordata, an alert associated with the environmental condition and/or theexternal environment. Note that determining the alert may involveoptionally analyzing the sensor data.

Based on the alert, the service application may provide, via networkingsubsystem 214, a service offer to an electronic device of an entity. Forexample, the service offer may be provided to a cellular telephone or acomputer of a user entity (such a user or an owner of environmentalmonitoring device 200, a tenant, a property owner, maintenancepersonnel, and/or a property manager). This service offer may includeinformation associated with the environmental condition, such as thetype or service (maintenance, regulation of the environmental condition,dynamic insurance, etc.) and/or an indication that there is an alertavailable for the external environment.

Then, if networking subsystem 214 receives a response that authorizesthe service, the service application may perform the service. Note thatperforming the service may involve: feedback subsystem 236 providing thealert (or information specifying the alert) on display 240, via optionalspeaker(s) 242, etc.; and/or networking subsystem 214 providing thealert (or information specifying the alert) to the electronic device ofthe entity. Furthermore, the service application may perform theservice, such as: providing an instruction or a command, via networkingsubsystem 214, to change on operating condition of a regulator device(thereby changing one or more environmental conditions); controlling theregulator device via optional switching subsystem 220 (e.g., by openingor closing switch 246, selecting a grey-scale value of an impedance ofswitch 246 that is between open and closed, etc.); providing, vianetworking subsystem 214, a maintenance notification about or associatedwith an electronic device (e.g., a legacy electronic device, theregulator device, an electronic device in a feedback loop, etc.) to theuser entity or a service provider to perform particular maintenance or aremedial action; and/or ordering, via networking subsystem 214, areplacement part or component for the electronic device from a supplier(e.g., a retailer); and/or providing, via networking subsystem 214, aninstruction to an insurance company to provide insurance for an objectin and/or for at least a portion of the external environment (e.g., aroom or a building).

In some embodiments, in order to perform the service, the serviceapplication: downloads or installs software (such as a software module,an application or a driver) that, when executed by processing subsystem210, performs the service; and/or enables a software module or a driverthat, when executed by processing subsystem 210, performs the service.For example, the software or the driver may facilitate an additionalcapability of environmental monitoring device 200, such as the abilityto monitor another environmental condition using one or more of sensordevices 226 or the ability to perform different analysis on the measuredsensor data to determine the other environmental condition.

Note that the service provided by environmental monitoring device 200may be based on the sensor data from one or more of sensor devices 226and/or sensor data received (via networking subsystem 214) from anotherelectronic device in the external environment (such as otherenvironmental monitoring devices, partner electronic devices, and/orservice-provider electronic devices). This sensor data may includecurrent and/or historical sensor data representing the environmentalconditions in one or more external environments that includeenvironmental monitoring devices. Using the sensor data, the serviceapplication may facilitate or enable the dynamic providing of insurance.For example, the service application may analyze the sensor data todetermine the probability of an environmental condition occurring duringa time interval in one of the external environments. Furthermore, theservice application may calculate a price-duration range of theinsurance associated with the environmental condition necessary forprofitability of the insurance. Then, the service application mayprovide, via networking subsystem 214, a service offer (with at least aprice or an insurance premium and a duration) for the insurance to auser entity (such as to the cellular telephone of a user). Afterreceiving, via networking subsystem 214, a response that accepts theservice offer (and, thus, that authorizes the service), the serviceapplication may (alone or in conjunction with a service provider)provides the insurance to the user entity. (However, in someembodiments, the service application initiates the insurance even whenthe user entity has not explicitly authorized it, such as whenprobability of the environmental condition occurring during the timeinterval, such as the next 24-72 hours, exceeds a threshold, e.g., 5,10, 25 or 50%.) In some embodiments, the service application dynamicallyadapts the price and/or the duration of the insurance based onsubsequent sensor data to ensure profitability.

As noted previously, the service application may allow dynamicsubcontracting for (and, thus, dynamic aggregating of) sensor data thatenables a service. This subcontracting may be based on a servicerequest, received via networking subsystem 214 (e.g., from a user entityor from a computer system in an ecosystem that includes environmentalmonitoring device 200), for a service and/or based on an alertassociated with the external environment, such as when the environmentalmonitoring application determines the presence of one or moreenvironmental conditions based on sensor data. (Thus, the subcontractingcan occur with or without an explicit request for the service. Instead,in some embodiments, environmental monitoring device 200 identifies aneed based on an alert and/or the presence of an environmentalcondition, and subcontracts for sensor data that allows environmentalmonitoring device 200 to provide the service.)

In response to the request and/or the alert, the service application mayidentify, based on the requested service and/or the alert, anotherelectronic device (which is sometimes referred to as a ‘subcontractingelectronic device’) that can provide at least some of the information(such as a type of sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data) needed toprovide the service. For example, the service application may identifythe other electronic device based on the capabilities, stored in memorysubsystem 212 (and/or stored remotely), of other environmentalmonitoring devices, partner electronic devices, and/or service-providerelectronic devices in the external environment. Then, the serviceapplication may provide, via networking subsystem 214, a request for thesensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data to the one or moreidentified environmental monitoring devices, partner electronic devicesand/or service-provider electronic devices in the external environment.Next, the service application receives (e.g., once, during a timeinterval or on an ongoing basis), via networking subsystem 214, therequested sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data from the one ormore identified environmental monitoring devices, partner electronicdevices and/or service-provider electronic devices. Using the requestedsensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, the service applicationprovides the service.

Note that, if the necessary sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data isunavailable in the external environment, the service application mayprovide, via networking subsystem 214, instructions to at least one ofthe one or more identified environmental monitoring devices, partnerelectronic devices and/or service-provider electronic devices in theexternal environment to download (or install) software, an applicationor a driver and/or to activate a previously installed program module ordriver, so that at least this subcontracting electronic device canprovide the necessary sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. Inthe embodiments where the service application identifies thesubcontracting electronic device based on the alert, the serviceapplication optionally provides, via networking subsystem 214, a serviceoffer to a user entity (such as providing information specifying anenvironmental condition to a user's cellular telephone with a serviceoffer to monitor the environmental condition or to perform a remedialaction) and, if the user authorizes the request (e.g., by accepting theservice offer), provides the service (and, thus, subcontracts for thesensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data).

In conjunction with a combination of other components in the ecosystemof electronic devices and service providers, the service application mayenable environmental monitoring device 200 to provide a service. Forexample, the service application (and/or a computer system in theecosystem) may identify the combination based on the sensor (such assensor data measured by one or more sensor devices 226 and/or fromanother environmental monitoring device, partner electronic device, orservice-provider electronic device). Note that the combination mayinclude one or more of environmental monitoring devices, one or morepartner electronic devices and/or one or more of the service providers(which are sometimes collectively referred to as ‘components’ in thecombination). Moreover, note that the sensor application (and/or thecomputer system) may identify the combination in response to a request(from a user entity or another entity, such as an insurance company or agovernment agency) or without there being an explicit request (thus, theservice may be provided even if a user or a user entity has notauthorized the service). For example, if sensor data from multiple homesin a neighborhood indicate an increase in attempted or successfulburglaries, an insurance provider may provide a request for enhancedsurveillance or home security, which may involve environmentalmonitoring devices in neighboring homes so that audio and video feedsfrom these environmental monitoring devices can provide a dynamicneighborhood-watch capability.

In some embodiments, the combination allows the service application totrack and predict the activities of a user (such as an individual intheir home) based on sensor data from multiple electronic devices (i.e.,in a collaborative manner) as the user moves through and in and out oftheir home. Moreover, the service application may use the sensor data todetermine the mood or emotional state of the user or another individualin the external environment. Then, the service application may provide,via networking subsystem 214, a forecast (which includes the predictedactivities and/or the user's emotional state) to a service provider(such as cable-television provider or an over-the-top content provider)that allows the service provider to select and distribute audio, videoand/or text content to the user (e.g., on a television, an electronicdevice, speakers, etc.) at suitable or convenient times for the userwithout requiring any explicit action by the user. For example, theservice application may use spectral analysis of audio to determine thata baby is crying, and thus may conclude that the baby's parent isstressed, so the service provider may be alerted to provide soothingmusic, a children's program on a television as a distraction and/orcalming lighting. Alternatively or additionally, the service applicationmay use natural language processing of audio of a phone conversation todetermine that the user has a particular problem, and the serviceprovider may be alerted to conduct a corresponding search using a searchengine and may display useful results on the user's cellular telephone.Furthermore, the service application may determine a user's shoppingintent based on natural language processing of audio and the user'sactivities (such as cooking and placing an empty milk cartoon on acounter), and may alert a service provider to order and deliver selectgroceries to the user's home.

As the environmental condition(s) in the external environment change(i.e., based on additional sensor data, such as sensor data thatindicates when the user is in different locations or performingdifferent tasks), the service application (and/or the computer system)may dynamically identify and aggregate different combinations to providethe service(s). The service application (and/or the computer system)may, via networking subsystem 214, communicate configuration informationspecifying the combination, interrelationships and functions in theservice to the components in the combination at a given time, including:the sensor data exchanged, sub-services performed and/or compensation(or information specifying the compensation) in the service.

Because the combinations may include bad sensor data and/or fraudulentactivity, the one or more program modules 232 may include a qualityapplication that monitors, via networking subsystem 214 (and/or inconjunction with the computer system), the inputs and outputs exchangedamong the components in combinations that provide services in one ormore external environments. Then, the quality application (and/or thecomputer system) analyzes the monitored inputs and outputs based onquality criteria (such as signatures of failure mechanisms in thecombinations and/or signatures of previous fraudulent activity in thecombinations) and historical inputs and outputs exchanged within thecombinations, which are stored in memory subsystem 212 (and/orremotely). When the quality application (and/or the computer system)identifies an instance in the inputs and the outputs of incorrect sensordata and/or fraudulent compensation, the service application (and/or thecomputer system) may perform a remedial action. In particular, theservice application may, via networking subsystem 214, provide to anaffected combination that includes the identified instance: anotification about the identified instance; modification informationspecifying a modification to the affected combination (such as aninstruction to exclude or replace a source of the identified instance);a notification to discontinue a service provided by an affectedcombination; and/or information specifying an adjustment to a level ofthe service provided by the affected combination (such as an instructionto delay or intentionally degrade the service).

The one or more program modules 232 may also include an analysisapplication that identifies opportunities for improving the servicesand/or for offering additional services based on analysis of the inputsand outputs exchanged in the combinations. In particular, the analysisapplication (and/or the computer system) may identify: sensor-datapatterns, suggested services, and/or suggested sensor-datasub-contracting during the services and the suggested services. Forexample, the analysis application may determine: purchasing patterns,recommended product features, recommended retail inventory, recommendedpricing of the services and the suggested services, and/or recommendeddurations of the services and the suggested services. Moreover, theservice application may, via networking subsystem 214, communicateinformation specifying a modification to a combination based on one ormore of the identified opportunities.

Within electronic device 200, processing subsystem 210, memory subsystem212, networking subsystem 214, power subsystem 216, optional switchingsubsystem 220, optional sensor subsystem 224 and/or feedback subsystem236 may be coupled using one or more interconnects, such as bus 238.These interconnects may include an electrical, optical, and/orelectro-optical connection that the subsystems can use to communicatecommands and data among one another. Note that different embodiments caninclude a different number or configuration of electrical, optical,and/or electro-optical connections among the subsystems.

Electronic device 200 can be (or can be included in) a wide variety ofelectronic devices. For example, electronic device 200 can be (or can beincluded in): a sensor (such as a smart sensor), a tablet computer, asmartphone, a cellular telephone, an appliance, a regulator device, aconsumer-electronic device (such as a baby monitor), a portablecomputing device, test equipment, a digital signal processor, acontroller, a personal digital assistant, a laser printer (or otheroffice equipment such as a photocopier), a personal organizer, a toy, aset-top box, a computing device (such as a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook), a light (such as anightlight), an alarm, a smoke detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, amonitoring device, and/or another electronic device (such as a switch ora router).

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device 200,in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems maybe present in electronic device 200. For example, electronic device 200may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memorysubsystems, networking subsystems, power subsystems, switchingsubsystems, and/or sensor subsystems. Additionally, one or more of thesubsystems may not be present in electronic device 200. Moreover, insome embodiments, electronic device 200 may include one or moreadditional subsystems that are not shown in FIG. 2.

Although separate subsystems are shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments,some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into oneor more of the other subsystems or components in electronic device 200.For example, in some embodiments the one or more program modules 232 areincluded in operating system 234. In some embodiments, a component in agiven subsystem is included in a different subsystem.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device 200 may beimplemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry,including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore,signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that haveapproximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuousvalues. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended ordifferential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the functionality ofnetworking subsystem 214 (such as a radio) and, more generally, some orall of the functionality of electronic device 200. Moreover, theintegrated circuit may include hardware and/or software mechanisms thatare used for transmitting wireless signals from electronic device 200to, and receiving signals at electronic device 200 from other electronicdevices. Aside from the mechanisms herein described, radios aregenerally known in the art and hence are not described in detail. Ingeneral, networking subsystem 214 and/or the integrated circuit caninclude any number of radios. Note that the radios in multiple-radioembodiments function in a similar way to the radios described insingle-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem 214 and/or the integratedcircuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardwareand/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmitand/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrierfrequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configurationmechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/ortransmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/ortransmitting on a different communication channel. (Note that‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from otherelectronic devices and possibly performing one or more processingoperations on the received signals, e.g., determining if the receivedsignal comprises an advertising frame, a petition, a beacon, etc.)

While some of the operations in the preceding embodiments wereimplemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in thepreceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety ofconfigurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of theoperations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, insoftware or both.

We now further describe exemplary embodiments of the ecosystem. FIG. 3presents a drawing illustrating a component 300 in the ecosystem ofFIG. 1. This component may be capable of receiving one or more inputs310, such as a service, information or goods or SIG (which may include aservice, a sub-service in the service, a product, analyzed sensor data,configuration information, notifications, fraud-detection information,fraudulent-payment information, faulty-sensor information, additionalinformation, etc.), compensation and/or sensor data. For example,component 300 may include an application programming interface with astructured format of the one or more inputs 310, which allows component300 to: collect or receive sensor data, receive analyzed sensor data,receive a service or a sub-service, receive a fraud alert or informationspecifying a fraudulent payment, receive a notification about a faultysensor, receive information that configures component 300 (such as intoa combination that provides a sub-service or a service), receive paymentfor sensor data, a sub-service or a service, receive calibrationinformation, receive location information, receive characteristics of anexternal environment (such as a laser scan of a room, a thermal profileof a room, etc.), receive user preferences, receive encryption keys,receive authentication information and permissions, etc. Similarly,component 300 may be capable of providing one or more outputs 312, suchas an SIG, compensation and/or sensor data. For example, component 300may include another application programming interface with a structuredformat of the one or more outputs 312, which allows component 300 to:provide or forward sensor data, provide or forward analyzed sensor data,provide a service or a sub-service, provide a fraud alert or informationspecifying a fraudulent payment, provide a notification about a faultysensor, provide information to configure another component (such as intoa combination that provides a sub-service or a service), provide paymentfor sensor data, a sub-service or a service, provide identifyinginformation about component 300, the external environment and/or anentity with which component 300 is associated, etc. Note that component300 may include: an environmental monitoring device, a partnerelectronic device, a regulator device, a service-provider electronicdevice, a computer system in the ecosystem, another electronic device(such as an electronic device of a user entity), etc.

For example, a component that receives or provides compensation (such asa payment) includes an environmental monitoring device that is enabledfor a subscription to a service, or that charges another electronicdevice (such as another environmental monitoring device) an amount for aprepaid service (such as a prepaid ‘service value token’ or SVT that isused for each instance of a notification or an alert). Moreover, acomponent that receives a service may include an environmentalmonitoring device that remotely receives a firmware upgrade, a softwareapplication or a program module that expands the functionality orcapability of the environmental monitoring device after a user pays foran upgraded service or the expanded functionality. Alternatively acomponent that receives a sub-service may include a smoke detector thatreceives motion-sensor data, which allows the smoke detector todetermine the location of an individual or an animal during a fire.Furthermore, a component that provides a service may include an airpurifier purifying the air, a smoke detector or a carbon-monoxidedetector providing an alert or a notification, or avolatile-organic-compound sensor providing measurements of harmfulchemicals in an external environment.

Components in the ecosystem may be arranged into a service hierarchy,which allows different combinations (which may be arranged or assembleddynamically) to provide services in environments. This is illustrated inFIG. 4, which presents a block diagram illustrating communication amongthe components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. In particular, environmentalmonitoring devices (EMD) 410 and/or partner electronic devices (such aspartner electronic device or PED 412-1) in sub-spaces 416 in spaces 418(such as hallways and/or rooms in a house or building) may interact witheach other (i.e., may exchange the inputs and the outputs) to formcollector systems 414 (such as groups of interacting environmentalmonitoring devices 410). Moreover, environmental monitoring devices 410,partner electronic device 412-1 and/or collector systems 414 may, viaoptional intermediary network 420-1 (such as a network associated with apartner of a provider of at least some of environmental monitoringdevices 410) and/or ecosystem network 422-1 (which may include one ormore computer systems and one or more communication networks), interactwith service-provider electronic devices 424 (and, more generally, theservice providers). In addition, environmental monitoring devices 410,partner electronic device 412-1 and/or collector systems 414 may,directly or via an intermediary, communicate with one or more electronicdevice(s) 426 of users or user entities (such as a homeowner or a groupof homeowners) that pay for a service based on the monitored sensordata.

Thus, there may be multiple environmental monitoring devices 410,partner electronic devices and collector systems in sub-spaces 416and/or spaces 418. For example, there may be multiple smoke detectors ina long hallway, or a smoke detector, a nightlight and an air purifier inthe same room, and there can be multiple sub-spaces in a space (such asrooms in a house, rooms in a hotel, offices in a building, buildings ina work campus, houses in a housing association, etc.). Moreover, therecan be many different users, partners and entities that exchange theinputs and outputs with different or varying data privileges orinformation rights across these electronic devices, collector systems,sub-spaces and spaces. For example, landlords or property managers,property owners, maintenance staff and tenants can have varying accessto information (such as sensor data, analyzed sensor data, environmentalconditions, alerts, notifications, etc.) in a space that represents amulti-unit housing community.

Note that a service provider and a partner can be associated with thesame or a different organization or company. In general, a partner is acompany that manufacturers or provides a product (such as partnerelectronic device 412-1) that is compatible with one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 410, such as a product that is designedby a provider of one or more of environmental monitoring devices 410 orthat includes a processing subsystem that is compatible with one or moreof environmental monitoring devices 410 (such as a processor or amicrocontroller that uses the same libraries as one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 410). In some embodiments, a partnerelectronic device includes a sensor or a program module on behalf of theprovider of one or more of environmental monitoring devices 410. Thissensor or program module may enable functionality of the partnerelectronic device that, in conjunction with one or more of environmentalmonitoring devices 410, facilitates a sub-service or a service.Furthermore, a partner may exchange inputs and outputs with one or moreenvironmental monitoring devices 410 without requiring compensation atthe time of the exchange (e.g., based on a pre-existing businessagreement between the partner and the provider of one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 410). In contrast, a service provideris an individual, an organization, a company or a government entity thatuses the outputs (such as sensor data) to provide a sub-service or aservice in a combination, such as: a more competitive insurance quote, afire or security monitoring service, automatic battery and filtershipments, automatic maintenance and repair-service scheduling, etc. Insome embodiments, partners and/or service providers can also use theirown data and payment gateways to provide services directly to customersor user entities.

In some embodiments, a provider of environmental monitoring devices 410provides incentives to entities to install environmental monitoringdevices 410. For example, an incentive can be a monthly rebate, aper-use rebate, or an initial discount on environmental monitoringdevices 410 or a discount on the installation of environmentalmonitoring devices 410. Similarly, the provider can provide incentivesfor partners to manufacture partner electronic devices that arecompatible with the ecosystem, such as a payment for each partnerelectronic device. In addition, agreements between the provider and apartner may allow one or both to have access to sensor data, analyzedsensor data and/or environmental condition information that they wouldnot otherwise be able to access.

Another view of the service hierarchy is shown in FIG. 5, which presentsa drawing illustrating different components and layers in the ecosystemof FIG. 1. Yet another view of the service hierarchy is shown in FIG. 6,which presents a drawing illustrating different components and layers inthe ecosystem of FIG. 1. Note that an air-aware platform 610 in theecosystem may include: climate control (such as temperature and humiditymonitoring), air-quality control, lighting or illumination control,and/or health and comfort. A space-aware platform 612 in the ecosystemmay include: security (including monitoring for hazards such asburglary), safety (including monitoring for hazards such as fire) and/oraccess control. Moreover, a resource-aware platform 614 may include:shared-resource metering or monitoring (such as use of a utility in amultiple occupancy residence, e.g., gas, electric, trash or waterservices), more-efficient resource consumption and/or resourcedistribution. An entity can choose to subscribe to one or more of theservices facilitated by these platforms. For example, a user may opt-into some services and opt-out of others for a rate reduction. Note thatthe services can be grouped into subsets such that an entity cansubscribe to a specific subset of the services.

In the embodiments of the ecosystem, ecosystem network 616 (or cloud)may include different (but linked or connected) sub-components. Forexample, a portion of ecosystem network 616 (such as air-aware platform610, space-aware platform 612 and/or resource-aware platform 614) mayprovide an interface that exchanges, collects and/or stores the sensordata, the analyzed sensor data, environmental conditions, componentconfigurations, the alerts and notifications, payments or compensation,and user or entity accounts, and that provides access to differententities to this information. In addition, another portion of ecosystemnetwork 616 may provide an interface to the service providers to receiveservice orders and notifications, to provide products and services, toreceive compensation, to receive fraud-detection and payment analytics,etc.

FIG. 7 presents a drawing illustrating components and layers in theecosystem of FIG. 1. In particular, ecosystem network 422-1 (whichprovides an independent infrastructure for dynamically establishing,monitoring, and/or modifying combinations of components) is illustratedas a horseshoe shape with environmental monitoring devices 410 on oneside, service-providers electronic devices 424 on the other side, andpartner electronic devices 412 in the middle. Different positions alongthe horizontal length of ecosystem network 422-1 may representconnections or channels in different combinations 710 that can beimplemented by ecosystem network 422-1. For example, using combination710-1, a user entity can leverage sensor data from environmentalmonitoring device 410-1 that is installed in a space or space system.This environmental monitoring device may be provided by a provider ofecosystem network (or on whose behalf ecosystem network is operated).Moreover, environmental monitoring device 410-1 may communicate sensordata and/or analyzed sensor data to service-provider electronic device(SPED) 424-1 via ecosystem network 422-1, and service-providerelectronic device 424-1 may provide a service to a user (e.g., viaecosystem network 422-1 and/or environmental monitoring device 410-1).Alternatively, in combination 710-2, environmental monitoring device410-2 may exchange sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data with partnerelectronic device 412-1 in a space or a space system via ecosystemnetwork 422-1, and partner electronic device 412-1 may communicate thesensor data, the analyzed sensor data, additional sensor data and/oradditional analyzed sensor data to service-provider electronic device424-2 via ecosystem network 422-1. In turn, service-provider electronicdevice 424-2 may provide a service to a user (e.g., via ecosystemnetwork 422-1, partner electronic device 412-1 and/or environmentalmonitoring device 410-2).

In combination 710-3, environmental monitoring device 410-3 may exchangesensor data and/or analyzed sensor data with partner electronic device412-2 in a space or a space system via ecosystem network 422-1. Forexample, partner electronic device 412-2 may provide additionalfunctionality or capability in combination 710-3 by leveraging thesensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data from environmentalmonitoring device 410-3, such as by further analyzing the sensor data.In particular, if partner electronic device 412-2 is a smoke detector,its emergency capabilities may be expanded based on live-persondetection information from environmental monitoring device 410-3, whichmay allow partner electronic device 412-2 to alert the fire departmentto the location of individuals in an external environment in the eventof a fire. Alternatively or additionally, if partner electronic device412-2 is the smoke detector, its emergency capabilities may be expandedbased on temperature measurements from environmental monitoring device410-3, which may allow partner electronic device 412-2 to provideinformation to the fire department about the location of a fire in theexternal environment. In another example, if partner electronic device412-2 is the burglar alarm, ecosystem network 422-1 may allow sensordata from a lock sensor in environmental monitoring device 410-3 (whichmay detect lock picking or vibrations) to be used to increase theaccuracy of a detected space intrusion (and, thus, may decrease thenumber of false alarms).

Furthermore, in combination 710-4 partner electronic device 412-3communicates with environmental monitoring device 410-4 via ecosystemnetwork 422-1, and uses ecosystem network 422-1 to communicate with oneor more service-provider electronic devices 424. This may allow partnerelectronic device 412-3 to access service-provider electronic devices424 with reduced costs. In turn, this may allow service-providerelectronic devices 424-4 to have access to a richer set of sensor dataand analysis, and to provide a wide variety of services to users.

However, in some embodiments, such as combination 710-5, environmentalmonitoring device 410-5, partner electronic device 412-4 andservice-provider electronic device 424-5 communicate with each otherwithout using ecosystem network 422-1. For example, this communicate mayinvolve a separate or dedicated infrastructure that only supportscommunication between electronic devices associated with or provided bya common provider or manufacturer.

In order to achieve the aforementioned dynamic combinations in theecosystem, the components may need to exchange data or information,which is sometimes referred to as ‘data permeability.’ This is shown inFIG. 8, which presents a drawing illustrating components and layers inthe ecosystem of FIG. 1. In FIG. 8, data permeability is illustratedamong one or more partners and a provider of ecosystem network 422-1.However, the concept of data permeability may be extended to anarbitrary component in the ecosystem. In particular, the datapermeability can occur between partners that are using ecosystem network422-1 to collect and analyze sensor data and/or partners that have theirown partner networks (such as partner network 810) that are owned andmanaged by the partners. The data permeability can be defined by apartnership agreement between one or more partners and a provider ofenvironmental monitoring devices 410 and/or ecosystem network 422-1.Moreover, the data permeability can be further influenced by userpreferences or settings. The data permeability can be bi-directional,meaning that a first partner can share data with a second partner, and asecond partner can reciprocally share data with the first partner.However, in some embodiments the data permeability is unidirectional.For example, as indicated by boundary 812, the sensor data captured byenvironmental monitoring devices 410 may have completely bi-directionaldata permeability with one or more partners. Alternatively, in someembodiments a partner (who may be associated with partner electronicdevice 412-1) can choose not to have data permeability. In theseembodiments, partner network 810 may communicate with ecosystem network422-1 to achieve the analytical capability and/or connection to one ofservice providers 424. Partner network 810 may not be able to achievethis functionality by having access to sensor data from other partnerelectronic devices (as indicated by boundary 816). In anotherembodiment, partner network 814 has unidirectional data permeability. Inthese embodiments, partner network 814 accepts sensor data from otherpartner electronic devices, but partner network 814 may not provide afraction or all of its sensor data to the other partner electronicdevices.

The service hierarchy in the ecosystem may provide different paths forexchanging information between components in combinations. This is shownin FIG. 9, which presents a drawing illustrating communication amongcomponents in the ecosystem of FIG. 1.

We now consider some specific examples of combinations of components inthe ecosystem, including: a nightlight in a single family home and anightlight in an apartment building. Referring back to FIG. 4, in thecase of a nightlight in a single family home, environmental monitoringdevices 410 and partner electronic device 412-1 may be nightlights, oneof electronic devices 426 may be associated with a user (such as a homeowner), and service-provider electronic devices 424 may be associatedwith service providers, such as: a maintenance service, an installationservice, a retailer, and an emergency-monitoring service. FIG. 10presents a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs from one of thesenightlights, such as nightlight 1000, in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Inputs1010 to nightlight 1000 may include: SIG such as services (upgrades,automation management, device-relationship management, batch management,etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, a call toaction, etc.); compensation information including when (non-recurring orrecurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token orevent) and frequency (time period, event or installment); and the datamay include metadata (such as a location, privacy rights, a nightlightidentifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification, mode,configuration, authorization, etc.). Moreover, outputs 1012 fromnightlight 1000 may include: SIG such as services (led color indicatorsof what the nightlight is monitoring and of other indications related toother products, real-time monitoring of events, lights that guide auser's path, the nightlight saves energy by turning on when there ismotion, the nightlight provides security by listening for smokedetectors, etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, acall to action, etc.); compensation information including when (anon-recurring or recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what(cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event orinstallment); and the data may include sensor data (such as samples oftemperature, humidity, volatile-organic compounds, etc.), sensor packets(such as audio recordings from a microphone, motion information, etc.),sensor streaming (such as the microphone, a motion detector, etc.),events (such as from the microphone, from the motion detector, asoftware trigger, a button, etc.) and metadata (such as a location,privacy rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity ofevents, user identification, an operating mode, etc.). An example ofgood is an actual product shipped from a retailer, or a digital downloador firmware upgrade for nightlight 1000, a service is a security orfire-monitoring service, and information includes alerts (such as anotification when a chemical reaches an unsafe level in the home).

The example of nightlights in an apartment building is shown in FIG. 11,which presents a drawing illustrating inputs to and outputs fromnightlights 1110 in a space 1100 (such as a long hallway) in theecosystem of FIG. 1. Inputs 1112 to nightlights 1110 may include: SIGsuch as services (upgrades, automation management, relationshipmanagement, etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, acall to action, etc.); compensation information including when(non-recurring or recurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit),what (cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event orinstallment); and the data may include events (such as within type,across type, across brand, feature enablement after paymentauthentication, etc.) and metadata (such as a location, a location size,privacy rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity ofevents, user identification, mode, configuration, authorization, etc.).Moreover, outputs 1114 from nightlights 1110 may include: SIG such asservices (such as security, batching, safety, timely informationcommunication, batch-access controls based on the space, etc.) andinformation (such as a notification of an event, a call to action,etc.); compensation information including when (a non-recurring orrecurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token orevent) and frequency (time period, event or installment); and the datamay include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,specified combinations of occurrences to trigger an event, etc.) andmetadata (such as: a location, a location size, privacy rights, anightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of events, useridentification, an operating mode, configuration, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 12, which presents a drawing illustrating inputs to andoutputs from an electronic device 1200 of a user in the ecosystem ofFIG. 1 (such as an example in which the user entity is a homeowner),inputs 1210 to electronic device 1200 may include: SIG such as services(upgrades, automation management, device-relationship management, etc.)and information (such as a notification of an event, a call to action,etc.); compensation information including when (non-recurring orrecurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token orevent) and frequency (time period, event or installment); and the datamay include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,etc.) and metadata (such as a location, privacy rights, a nightlightidentifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification, mode,configuration, authorization, etc.). Moreover, outputs 1212 fromelectronic device 1200 may include: SIG such as services (such assecurity) and information (such as a notification of an event, a call toaction, etc.); compensation information including when (a non-recurringor recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, tokenor event) and frequency (time period, event or installment); and thedata may include events (such as within type, across type, across brand,etc.) and metadata (such as a location, a location size privacy rights,a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity of events, useridentification, a configuration, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 13, which presents a drawing illustrating inputs to andoutputs from an ecosystem network 1300 from a provider of the ecosystemof FIG. 1, inputs 1310 to ecosystem network 1300 may include: SIG suchas services (upgrades, automation management, device-relationshipmanagement, etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, acall to action, etc.); compensation information including when(non-recurring or recurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit),what (cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event orinstallment); and the data may include events (such as within type,across type, across brand, etc.) and metadata (such as a location,privacy rights, a nightlight identifier, frequency and quantity ofevents, user identification, mode, configuration, authorization, etc.).Moreover, outputs 1312 from ecosystem network 1300 may include: SIG suchas services (such as security, quarantined corruption, high-quality dataguaranteed, access and connection to the ecosystem of service providers,partner-anonymized aggregated data, etc.) and information (such as anotification of an event, a call to action, etc.); compensationinformation including when (a non-recurring or recurring expense) how(prepaid, credit or debit), what (cash, token or event) and frequency(time period, event or installment); and the data may include events(such as within type, across type, across brand, etc.) and metadata(such as a location, a location size privacy rights, a nightlightidentifier, frequency and quantity of events, user identification, aconfiguration, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 14, presents a drawing illustrating inputs to andoutputs from a service-provider electronic device 1400 in the ecosystemof FIG. 1, inputs 1410 to service-provider electronic device 1400 mayinclude: SIG such as services (upselling, cross selling, market access,load management, etc.) and information (such as a notification of anevent, a call to action, etc.); compensation information including when(non-recurring or recurring revenue), how (prepaid, credit or debit),what (cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event orinstallment); and the data may include user-entity information (such asa location, a user identifier, assignment, timing, access, etc.) andsupply information (such as identification, specifications, etc.).Moreover, outputs 1412 from service-provider electronic device 1400 mayinclude: SIG such as services (such as security, safety, qualityguarantee, etc.) and information (such as a notification of an event, acall to action, etc.); compensation information including when (anon-recurring or recurring expense) how (prepaid, credit or debit), what(cash, token or event) and frequency (time period, event orinstallment); and the data may include offerings (such as servicesoffered, constraints, timing, location, quantities, frequency, load,confirmation, status, etc.).

FIG. 15 presents a drawing illustrating layers with electronic devicesof a partner of a provider of the ecosystem of FIG. 1. In particular,partner electronic devices 412 may include a combined smoke detector,carbon-monoxide detector and motion sensor. The provider of theecosystem may pay the partner to include one or more of these sensors inpartner electronic devices 412. Moreover, one of service-providerselectronic devices 424 (such as a security service) may work with thepartner to exchange sensor data, goods and service, and compensation viathe ecosystem. Partner electronic devices 412 may communicate with eachother about: their location, battery status, sensor data, user-accessrights, motion detection data (such as where each user is, etc.). Thesensor data can be transmitted redundantly to verify data quality andensure that important real-time sensor data is received.

One or more of partner electronic devices 412 in the externalenvironment or the space may communicate sensor data and/orenvironmental conditions with electronic device 426-1 and/or ecosystemnetworks 422 (which may record and process the sensor data, and maydetermine if a notification needs to be sent out the ecosystem).Moreover, one or more of partner electronic devices 412 may exchangeshare information with the partner and/or the partner may receiveinformation from the ecosystem. The partner may use the sensor data tooffer an emergency-monitoring service.

Furthermore, a homeowner may pay for a security-monitoring service usingthe motion sensors in partner electronic devices 412. The provider ofthe ecosystem may: pay a retailer in the service providers forreplacement batteries, upgraded smoke alarms or additional smoke alarmsthat are shipped to the space (such as a home); pay an installationservice in the service providers a monthly fee (or a rebate to alandlord), a prepaid fee for a number of notifications, or an initialpayment or discount as an incentive to install partner electronicdevices 412; notify and pay the security service for security-officerpatrols and visits to the space; notify the emergency-monitoringservice, which may prompt a visit from emergency personnel to the space.In addition, note that the provider of the ecosystem may share revenuewith the partner in exchange for motion-sensor data from partnerelectronic devices 412.

Note that the margins in the preceding example may be associated with abulk service agreement with the security service, in which the securityservice is paid per event, and a subscription fee can be charged to eachindividual user. Alternatively, there can be a flat subscription feecharged by the security service per user, and with some markup chargedby the provider of the ecosystem as a subscription fee. In addition, theprovider of the ecosystem can charge customers per event or per usage.For example, with a remote cabin that is visited once a year, and thathas, on average, one or two alerts per year, a full subscription servicemay not be worth it. However, a subscription ‘lite’ service or a fixednumber of notifications with an offer to ‘top up’ or upgrade the serviceto a full subscription as needed may be more useful for a user, or maybe perceived as a better value for the user.

The inputs to the partner electronic device may include: SIG (such asspace overview, a full-system fire test for the space, firmware updatesto support, space-specific features, custom configurations betweenproducts and spaces, e.g., sprinkler programming); compensation (such ascredit-card registration, prepayments, gift cards, service value tokensor other cash equivalent to purchase subscriptions or on-demandservices); and the data (such as a Global Positioning System location,authorized users, a sound profile, acoustic transfer function orcharacterization of the space, configurations, connections betweendevices, connections between spaces, privacy rights for users, devices,identifying parameters for a sub-space within the space and for thespace, a device identifier, location naming, etc.). Moreover, theoutputs to the partner electronic device may include: SIG (such as thespace provides protection, shelter, security, safety, storage, etc.);compensation (such as the space can be rented out for living, hotelstay, events, storage or other purposes, notifications of securitybreaches, etc.); and the data (such as a Global Positioning Systemlocation, authorized users, guests, privacy rights, identifyingparameters, a size of the space, user preferences, etc.).

Data flow in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 is shown inFIG. 16, which presents a drawing illustrating communication amongcomponents in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Note that in this example,partner electronic devices may mesh or combine their sensor datatogether (from primary to secondary storage) for redundant datatransmission and improved reliability using possibly existing meshnetwork or communication techniques such as Zigbee® or Z-wave.

Data flow in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 is alsoshown in FIG. 17, which presents a drawing illustrating communicationamong components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1. Moreover, compensation flowin the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 is shown in FIG. 18,which presents a drawing illustrating communication among components inthe ecosystem of FIG. 1. Note that, in general, SIG may flow or beexchanged between any pair of the components in the service hierarchy inthe example of FIG. 15.

Datagram flows between some of the components in the service hierarchyin the example of FIG. 15 are shown in FIG. 19, which presents a drawingillustrating communication among components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1.The datagrams include permissions as well as sensor data. In someembodiments, the datagrams include encryption keys.

An embodiment of datagram flows between additional components in theservice hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 are shown in FIG. 20, whichpresents a drawing illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1. Another embodiment of datagram flows between someof the components in the service hierarchy in the example of FIG. 15 areshown in FIG. 21, which presents a drawing illustrating communicationamong components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1.

We now describe examples of timing diagrams during different types ofservices. FIG. 22 presents a timing diagram illustrating communicationamong components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 for an alarm service.Moreover, FIG. 23 presents a timing diagram illustrating communicationamong components in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 for a product shipment orservice scheduling in a retail service. Furthermore, FIG. 24 presents atiming diagram illustrating communication among components in theecosystem of FIG. 1 during a utility metering service. Additionally,FIG. 25 presents a timing diagram illustrating communication amongcomponents in the ecosystem of FIG. 1 during service origination,installation and/or registration.

We now describe embodiments of service techniques that can be performedusing components in the ecosystem. FIG. 26 presents a flow diagramillustrating a method 2600 for providing a service in response to analert in the ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by anenvironmental monitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoringdevices 110 in FIG. 1). During operation, the environmental monitoringdevice determines, based on sensor data representing an environmentalcondition in an external environment that is provided by a sensormechanism in the environmental monitoring device, the alert (operation2612) associated with the environmental condition and/or the externalenvironment. For example, the environmental monitoring device mayreceive the sensor data from the sensor mechanism and/or may accesssensor data that is stored in memory.

Then, the environmental monitoring device provides, via an interfacecircuit in the environmental monitoring device, a service offer(operation 2614) to an electronic device based on the alert, where theservice offer includes information associated with the environmentalcondition (e.g., the information may indicate the environmentalcondition is present or may indicate that, if the service offer isaccepted, information about the environmental condition will beprovided), and the electronic device is of an entity that is associatedwith the external environment (such as a cellular telephone of a userentity, e.g., a user or an owner of the environmental monitoring device,a tenant, a property owner, a landlord, maintenance personnel, and/or aproperty manager). Moreover, the environmental monitoring devicereceives, via the interface circuit, a response to the service offer(operation 2616) from the electronic device, where the responseauthorizes a service based on the environmental condition.

Next, the environmental monitoring device performs the service(operation 2618). Note that the service may include providing the alert.For example, the environmental monitoring device may communicate thealert to the electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, duringthe service the environmental monitoring device may provide aninstruction to a regulator device in the external environment to modifythe environmental condition, where the regulator device may beassociated with a second entity (such as a regulator entity) that isdifferent from the entity and a provider of the environmental monitoringdevice. This instruction may include compensation (or informationspecifying the compensation, such as a credit to a particular financialaccount or a payment from a financial vehicle, e.g., a debit card or acredit card) for the second entity. In particular, the compensation maybe for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-alert basis;and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a timeinterval (such as an hour, a day, a week, a month, while the entity ispresent in the external environment, while the entity is absent from theexternal environment, etc.). In some embodiments, the service includesinsurance for: an item in the external environment, a portion of theexternal environment (such as a room in a building), and/or the externalenvironment.

Moreover, note that the service may be provided on a per-alert basis.Alternatively or additionally, the service may be selectively providedas a function of time based on the environmental condition (such as whenthere are occurrences of the environmental condition or when theenvironmental condition is absent). Thus, in some embodiments, theservice is provided as needed. In some embodiments, a user can opt-in oropt-out of a per-alert service plan.

Furthermore, a spatial extent of the service in the external environmentmay be varied as a function of time based on the environmentalcondition. For example, the service may be extended to different roomsin a house or a building when the environmental condition is present orabsent.

Additionally, performing the service (operation 2618) may involve:downloading software for the environmental monitoring device (such as asoftware upgrade or antivirus software) that, when executed by theenvironmental monitoring device, performs the service; and/or enabling asoftware module in the environmental monitoring device (i.e., that isalready installed in the environmental monitoring device) that, whenexecuted by the environmental monitoring device, performs the service.Thus, performing the service (operation 2618) may involve obtaining oractivating additional functionality of the environmental monitoringdevice, such as a different sensor capability or a different sensor-dataanalysis capability.

In some embodiments, performing the service (operation 2618) involves:communicating the sensor data to another electronic device of the secondentity or a third entity (such as a service provider or a partnerentity), which may be different from the entity; and providingcompensation for the sensor data to: the electronic device, and/or anaccount-management computer system that manages a financial accountassociated with the entity. For example, the environmental monitoringdevice may provide the sensor data to the regulator device, which allowsthe regulator device to modify the environmental condition (e.g., usinga feedback-control system). In exchange for providing the sensor datathat enables the service in this example, the entity may be compensatedor may receive a credit in their financial account. In some embodiments,the entity is compensated with a credit in a non-financial account, suchas a scoreboard, or a credit of services from a service provider or apartner entity.

Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may optionally receiveadditional sensor data (operation 2610) from other environmental sensorsin other environments, and the determination (operation 2612) may bebased on the additional sensor data. Thus, the environmental monitoringdevice may use a collaborative filtering technique to make thedetermination. For example, sensor data from environmental monitoringdevices in other rooms or houses in a neighborhood may be used todetermine if the environmental condition (such as a regional powerfailure) is present.

FIG. 27 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 2600 (FIG. 26). In particular, optionalsensor subsystem 224 in environmental monitoring device 200 may providesensor data 2710 to processing subsystem 210. Then, processing subsystem210 may analyze sensor data 2710, and may determine alert 2712 based onthe environmental condition in the external environment of environmentalmonitoring device 200. In some embodiments, at least anotherenvironmental monitoring device, such as environmental monitoring device2714, in the same or a different external environment optionallyprovides sensor data 2716 to environmental monitoring device 200.Networking subsystem 214 may receive sensor data 2716 and may providesensor data 2716 to processing subsystem 210, which uses sensor data2716 when determining alert 2712.

Moreover, processing subsystem 210 may provide service offer 2718 forservice 2722 to networking subsystem 214. Next, networking subsystem 214may communicate service offer 2718 to electronic device 108.Subsequently, electronic device 108 may provide response 2720authorizing service 2722 to networking subsystem 214, which forwardsresponse 2720 to processing subsystem 210. In response, processingsubsystem 210 performs service 2722.

FIG. 28 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2800 for providingsubsets of sensor data based on data privileges in the ecosystem of FIG.1, which may be performed by an environmental monitoring device (such asone of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1). Duringoperation, the environmental monitoring device receives sensor data(operation 2810) representing an environmental condition in an externalenvironment that is provided by a sensor mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device. For example, the environmental monitoring device mayreceive the sensor data from the sensor mechanism and/or may accesssensor data that is stored in memory.

Then, the environmental monitoring device generates the subsets of thesensor data (operation 2818) based on the data privileges of entities,where the data privileges of at least some of the entities are differentand at least some of the corresponding subsets of the sensor data aredifferent. For example, the entities may include two or more of: atenant in the external environment, a property manager of the externalenvironment, an owner of the external environment (such as a landlord),and maintenance personnel who maintain the external environment.

Next, the environmental monitoring device provides, via an interfacecircuit in the environmental monitoring device, the subsets of thesensor data (operation 2820) to electronic devices of the entities.

Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may: optionally provide,via the interface circuit, data-availability information (operation2812) specifying available sensor data for the external environment; andoptionally receive, via the interface circuit, requests (operation 2814)from the electronic devices in response to the data-availabilityinformation, where the data privileges correspond to the requests. Forexample, the data privileges may be specified in the requests.Alternatively or additionally, the environmental monitoring device mayoptionally determine the data privileges (operation 2816) based on therequests. In particular, the data privileges of an entity may bedetermined based on the entity and the requested data (such as the typeof data). Note that the data-availability information may be providedto: the electronic devices, and/or a system that implements asensor-data marketplace, which allows the entities to determine thesensor data that is available.

In some embodiments, the data privileges vary as a function of: time,and/or the environmental condition. Thus, an entity may have access todifferent sensor data at different times of the day and/or when theenvironmental condition is present or absent (such as when a fire alarmor a carbon-monoxide detector is sounding an alarm). Moreover, the dataprivileges may specify: different spatial extents in the externalenvironment monitored by the sensor mechanism; and/or different types ofinformation associated with the external environment. For example, anentity (such as a landlord) may have access to sensor data for a rentalproperty at certain times of day or when the tenants are not present.Similarly, a tenant may have full access to the sensor data from therental property, while a landlord may have access to sensor data thatindicates an emergency (such as a fire or carbon monoxide) and/or theavailability or quality of certain services (such as hot water, heatingand air conditioning).

In an exemplary embodiment, environmental monitoring devices areincluded in retail stores and a warehouse. The ecosystem may aggregateand maintain the monitored sensor data and environmental conditions.User entities in this embodiment may include: a warehouse, a retailstore and a trucking service. The ecosystem may have different dataprivileges for these user entities, including: general data privileges,warehouse access rights, and trucking access rights. Service providersin this example may include: a supplier, a logistics service, aconsumer-rating service and the corporate headquarters of the retailer.This service hierarchy may facilitate supply-chain management.

FIG. 29 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 2800 (FIG. 28). In particular, optionalsensor subsystem 224 in environmental monitoring device 200 may providesensor data 2910 to processing subsystem 210. Then, processing subsystem210 may optionally provide data-availability information 2912 tonetworking subsystem 214, which may optionally provide data-availabilityinformation 2912 to electronic devices 2914 of entities and/or asensor-data marketplace.

Moreover, one or more of electronic devices 2914 may optionally provideone or more requests 2916. In response to networking subsystem 214receiving the one or more requests 2916 and forwarding the one or morerequests 2916 to processing subsystem 210, processing subsystem 210 mayoptionally determine data privileges 2918. Alternatively oradditionally, processing subsystem 210 may optionally access predefineddata privileges 2918 in memory subsystem 212. However, in someembodiments data privileges 2918 are included in the one or morerequests 2916.

Next, processing subsystem 210 may generate subsets 2920 of sensor data2910 based on data privileges 2918 of the entities, and may, vianetworking subsystem 214, provide one or more of subsets 2920 to one ormore of electronic devices 2914.

FIG. 30 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3000 for providinga service and subcontracting for sensor data that enables the service inthe ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmentalmonitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices 110in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems 120 inFIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more locations in theecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the system is used as anillustrative example.

During operation, the system receives, via an interface mechanism in thesystem, a service request for the service (operation 3010) associatedwith an environment from an electronic device of an entity (such as auser entity). Note that the service request may include compensation (orinformation specifying compensation) to or for a third entity associatedwith the system (such as a provider of the system) for the service.

Then, the system identifies an environmental monitoring device withinthe environment (operation 3012) in response to the service request,where the environmental monitoring device provides the sensor data thatrepresents an environmental condition in the environment, and theenvironmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity thatis different from the entity (such as another user entity, a third-partyowner entity, a partner entity, a service provider, etc.) and/or thethird entity. Note that the service may be associated with a type of thesensor data, and the environmental monitoring device may be identifiedbased on the type of the sensor data.

Moreover, the system: provides, via the interface mechanism, a datarequest for the sensor data (operation 3014) to the environmentalmonitoring device; and receives, via the interface mechanism, the sensordata (operation 3016) from the environmental monitoring device inresponse to the data request. Note that the second entity may include aservice provider, and the data request may include compensation (orinformation specifying compensation) to the second entity for the sensordata. Alternatively, the second entity may include a partner of thethird entity, and the sensor data may be received without compensationto the second entity for the sensor data.

Furthermore, the system provides the service (operation 3020) to theentity based on the environmental condition. In some embodiments, thesystem optionally analyzes the sensor data (operation 3018), and theservice may be provided based on the analyzed sensor data.

For example, the system may provide an instruction to a regulator devicein the environment to modify the environmental condition, where theregulator device is associated with: the second entity and/or a fourthentity that is different from the entity, the second entity and thethird entity (such as a regulator entity). Moreover, the instruction mayinclude compensation (or information specifying the compensation) formodifying the environmental condition. In particular, the compensationmay be for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis;and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a timeinterval. Thus, the service may be provided on a one-time basis. (Moregenerally, in the present discussion compensation may include aflat-rate subscription paid at a predefined periodicity, such asmonthly, bi-yearly or yearly, which may cover a predefined number ofinstances of the environmental condition or an unlimited number ofinstances.) Alternatively or additionally, the service may beselectively provided as a function of time based on the environmentalcondition.

Note that performing the service may involve: downloading software forthe environmental monitoring device that, when executed by theenvironmental monitoring device, performs the service; and/or remotelyenabling a software module in the environmental monitoring device (i.e.,that is already installed in the environmental monitoring device) that,when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs theservice. Thus, the service may involve adding a capability orfunctionality to the environmental monitoring device, such as adifferent sensor capability and/or a different sensor-data analysiscapability.

In some embodiments, the service includes insurance for: an item in theenvironment, a portion of the environment, and/or the environment.

FIG. 31 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 3000 (FIG. 30). In particular, networkingsubsystem 3112 in system 3110 may receive a service request 3114 forservice 3130 associated with the environment from electronic device 3116of the entity, and networking subsystem 3112 may forward service request3114 to processing subsystem 3118. Then, processing subsystem 3118 mayidentify 3120 an environmental monitoring device 3124 within theenvironment in response to service request 3114.

Moreover, the processing subsystem 3118 may provide, via networkingsubsystem 3112, a data request 3122 for the sensor data to environmentalmonitoring device 3124. In response, environmental monitoring device3124 may provide sensor data 3126. After networking subsystem 3112receives sensor data 3124 and forwards sensor data 3126 to processingsubsystem 3118, processing subsystem 3118 may provide service 3130 basedon the environmental condition. In some embodiments, processingsubsystem 3118 optionally performs analysis 3128 on sensor data 3126prior to providing service 3130 based, at least in part, on a result ofanalysis 3128.

FIG. 32 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3200 for providinga service and subcontracting for sensor data that enables the service inthe ecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmentalmonitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices 110in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems 120 inFIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more locations in theecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the system is used as anillustrative example.

During operation, the system receives, via an interface mechanism in thesystem, an alert (operation 3210) associated with an environment, suchas an alert based on an environmental condition in the environment (suchas an alert from an electronic device in the environment or external tothe environment). Then, the system identifies an environmentalmonitoring device within the environment (operation 3212) in response tothe alert, where the environmental monitoring device provides the sensordata that represents the environmental condition in the environment, andthe environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity(such as another user entity, a third-party owner entity, a partnerentity, a service provider, etc.) that may be different than a thirdentity associated with the system (such as a provider of the system).Note that the service may be associated with a type of the sensor data,and the environmental monitoring device may be identified based on thetype of the sensor data.

Moreover, the system: provides, via the interface mechanism, a serviceoffer (operation 3214) to an electronic device of an entity associatedwith the environment (such as a cellular telephone of a user entity),where the service offer includes information associated with theenvironmental condition (e.g., the information may indicate theenvironmental condition is present or may indicate that, if the serviceoffer is accepted, information about the environmental condition will beprovided), and the entity is different from the second entity and thethird entity; and receives, via the interface mechanism, a response(operation 3216) to the service offer from the electronic device, wherethe response authorizes a service. Note that the response may includecompensation (or information specifying compensation) for the thirdentity for the service.

Furthermore, the system: provides, via the interface mechanism, a datarequest for the sensor data (operation 3218) to the environmentalmonitoring device; and receives, via the interface mechanism, the sensordata (operation 3220) from the environmental monitoring device inresponse to the data request. Note that the second entity may include aservice provider, and the data request may include compensation (orinformation specifying compensation) to the second entity for the sensordata. Alternatively, the second entity may include a partner of thethird entity, and the sensor data may be received without compensationto the second entity for the sensor data.

Additionally, the system provides the service (operation 3224) to theentity based on the environmental condition. In some embodiments, thesystem optionally analyzes the sensor data (operation 3222), and theservice may be provided based on the analyzed sensor data.

For example, the system may provide an instruction to a regulator devicein the environment to modify the environmental condition, where theregulator device is associated with: the second entity and/or a fourthentity that is different from the entity, the second entity and thethird entity (such as a regulator entity). Moreover, the instruction mayinclude compensation (or information specifying the compensation) formodifying the environmental condition. In particular, the compensationmay be for: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis;and/or modifying the environmental condition during at least a timeinterval. Thus, the service may be provided on a one-time basis.Alternatively or additionally, the service may be selectively providedas a function of time based on the environmental condition.

Note that performing the service may involve: downloading software forthe environmental monitoring device that, when executed by theenvironmental monitoring device, performs the service; and/or remotelyenabling a software module in the environmental monitoring device (i.e.,that is already installed in the environmental monitoring device) that,when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs theservice. Thus, the service may involve adding a capability orfunctionality to the environmental monitoring device, such as adifferent sensor capability and/or a different sensor-data analysiscapability.

In some embodiments, the service includes insurance for: an item in theenvironment, a portion of the environment, and/or the environment.

FIG. 33 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 3200 (FIG. 32). In particular, networkingsubsystem 3312 in system 3310 may receive an alert 3314 associated withthe environment from electronic device 3316, and networking subsystem3312 may forward alert 3314 to processing subsystem 3318. Then,processing subsystem 3318 may identify environmental monitoring device3320 within the environment in response to alert 3314.

Moreover, the processing subsystem 3318 may provide, via networkingsubsystem 3312, service offer 3322 for service 3324 to electronic device3326 of the entity. In response, electronic device 3326 may provideresponse 3328 authorizing service 3324.

After networking subsystem 3312 receives response 3328 and forwardsresponse 3328 to processing subsystem 3318, processing subsystem 3318may provide a data request 3330 for the sensor data to environmentalmonitoring device 3320. In response, environmental monitoring device3320 may provide sensor data 3332. Furthermore, after networkingsubsystem 3312 receives sensor data 3332 and forwards sensor data 3332to processing subsystem 3318, processing subsystem 3318 may provideservice 3324 based on the environmental condition. In some embodiments,processing subsystem 3318 optionally performs analysis 3334 on sensordata 3332 prior to providing service 3324 based, at least in part, on aresult of analysis 3334.

FIG. 34 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3400 for providinga service offer for a service (such as dynamic insurance) in theecosystem of FIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmentalmonitoring device (such as one of environmental monitoring devices 110in FIG. 1), a computer system (such as one of computer systems 120 inFIG. 1) and/or, more generally, a system at one or more locations in theecosystem. In the discussion that follows, the system is used as anillustrative example.

During operation, the system receives, via an interface mechanism in thesystem, sensor data (operation 3410) from environmental monitoringdevices in environments, where the sensor data represent environmentalconditions in the environments, and where the environmental monitoringdevices are associated with second entities (such as another userentity, a third-party owner entity, a partner entity, a serviceprovider, etc.) that are different from a third entity associated withthe system (such as a provider of the system). Note that the system mayprovide compensation (or information specifying the compensation) to thesecond entities for the sensor data.

Then, the system analyzes the sensor data (operation 3412) to determinea probability of an environmental condition occurring during a timeinterval in at least one of the environments, where an entity (such as auser entity) is associated with at least the one of the environments.Moreover, the system calculates a price-duration range (operation 3414)of a service in the environment necessary for profitability of theservice based on the determined probability and an estimated costassociated with the service.

Next, the system provides, via the interface mechanism, a service offer(operation 3416) for the service associated with the environmentalcondition to an electronic device associated with the entity, where theservice offer includes at least a price and a duration based on thecalculated price-duration range.

Furthermore, the system: receives, via the interface mechanism, aresponse (operation 3418) to the service offer from the electronicdevice, where the response authorizes the service; and provides theservice (operation 3420) to the entity based on subsequent sensor datafrom one or more of the environmental monitoring devices. Note that theresponse may be received without action by the entity (e.g., theelectronic device may authorize the service based on one or morepredefined criteria). Additionally, note that the service may beselectively provided based on the environmental condition, such as whenthe environmental condition occurs or is present, or when theenvironmental condition is absent. In some embodiments, the sensor datais received on an ongoing basis, and the analysis is performeddynamically to update the price-duration range.

Note that performing the service may involve: downloading software forat least the one environmental monitoring device that, when executed byat least the one environmental monitoring device, performs the service;and/or remotely enabling a software module in at least the oneenvironmental monitoring device (i.e., that is already installed in theenvironmental monitoring device) that, when executed by at least the oneenvironmental monitoring device, performs the service. Thus, the servicemay involve adding a capability or functionality to the environmentalmonitoring device, such as a different sensor capability and/or adifferent sensor-data analysis capability.

In some embodiments, the service offer includes multiple pairs of pricesand durations based on the calculated price-duration range. In theseembodiments, the response to the service offer from the electronicdevice authorizes the service at one of the pairs of prices anddurations.

The sensor data may include current and historical sensor datarepresenting the environmental conditions in the environments.Furthermore, the service may include insurance for: an item in at leastthe one environment, a portion of at least the one environment, and/orat least the one environment. Additionally, the duration may include:one occurrence of the environmental condition, or a predefined number ofinstances (such as 1, 3, 5, 10 or 100 occurrences).

Moreover, the system may: optionally provide, via the interfacemechanism, a data request (operation 3422) for additional sensor data toat least: one or more of the environmental monitoring devices, and/orone or more additional environmental monitoring devices in at least theone environment; and optionally receive, via the interface mechanism,the additional sensor data (operation 3424) in response to the datarequest. For example, the additional sensor data may provide anindependent verification of the price and the duration (thus, theadditional sensor data may be the same or a different type of sensordata than the sensor data). The system may update the price and/or theduration based on the additional sensor data. Note that the additionalsensor data may be associated with or may have timestamps after those ofthe sensor data. Moreover, the service may be provided based on theadditional sensor data and/or the system may provide compensation (orinformation specifying the compensation) for the additional sensor data.

FIG. 35 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 3400 (FIG. 34). In particular, networkingsubsystem 3512 in system 3510 may receive sensor data 3514 fromenvironmental monitoring devices 3516 in environments, and networkingsubsystem 3512 may forward sensor data 3514 to processing subsystem3518. Then, processing subsystem 3518 may analyze sensor data 3514 todetermine probability 3520 of the environmental condition occurringduring the time interval in at least one of the environments. Moreover,processing subsystem 3518 may calculate a price-duration range 3522 ofservice 3524 in the environment necessary for profitability of service3524 based on probability 3522 and an estimated cost associated withservice 3524.

Next, processing subsystem 3518 may provide, via networking subsystem3512, service offer 3526 for service 3524 to electronic device 3528associated with the entity, where service offer 3526 includes at least aprice and a duration based on calculated price-duration range 3522. Inresponse, electronic device 3528 may provide response 3530 to serviceoffer 3526 authorizing service 3524. After networking subsystem 3512receives response 3530 and forwards response 3530 to processingsubsystem 3518, processing subsystem 3518 may provide service 3524 tothe entity based on subsequent sensor data 3532 from one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 3516.

In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3518 optionally provides, vianetworking subsystem 3512, data request 3534 for additional sensor datato one or more of environmental monitoring devices 3516. In response,the one or more of environmental monitoring devices 3516 may optionallyprovide additional sensor data 3536. After networking subsystem 3512receives additional sensor data 3536 and forwards additional sensor data3536 to processing subsystem 3518, processing subsystem 3518 may update3538 the price and/or the duration based on additional sensor data 3536.

FIG. 36 presents a flow diagram illustrating method 3600 for identifyinga combination of components that provides a service in the ecosystem ofFIG. 1, which may be performed by an environmental monitoring device(such as one of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), acomputer system (such as one of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or,more generally, a system at one or more locations in the ecosystem. Inthe discussion that follows, the system is used as an illustrativeexample.

During operation, the system identifies, based on sensor data from (or atype of sensor data available from) at least one of environmentalmonitoring devices of second entities that represents an environmentalcondition in an environment, the combination (operation 3614) thatprovides the service related to the environment, where the combinationincludes one or more of the environmental monitoring devices of anentity and/or the second entities and one or more of: partner electronicdevices and/or service providers. Note that the one or more of theenvironmental monitoring devices may be included in the environment, andthe partner electronic devices may be included in the environment andmay be associated with partners or partner entities of a third entitythat is associated with the system (such as a provider of the system).Moreover, a given partner electronic device may optionally include, onbehalf of the third entity, at least a module and/or a sensor (i.e., themodule or the sensor may be pre-installed in the given partnerelectronic device), and the service providers may include: a maintenanceservice, an installation service, a retail service, and/or anemergency-monitoring service. Furthermore, the one or more of theenvironmental monitoring devices and the one or more of the partnerelectronic devices and the service providers may be associated withdifferent entities. In some embodiments, the service is associated witha type of the sensor data, and the one or more of the environmentalmonitoring devices are identified based on the type of the sensor data.For example, the service may involve providing useful information (suchas discount offers or advertisements) for products a user may need, andthe sensor data may allow the system, as a function of time, to identifythe user's needs and their emotional state (such as when the user isinterested or feeling like shopping or purchasing something, e.g., whenthe user is happy, when the user is motivated to solve a problem, etc.).Thus, the environmental condition may include a user's emotional state,needs and/or shopping intent.

Then, the system communicates, via an interface mechanism in the system,configuration information (operation 3616) specifying the combinationand functions in the service to the one or more of the environmentalmonitoring devices and one or more of the partner electronic devicesand/or service-provider electronic devices of the service providers. Theconfiguration information specifies interrelationships among thecombination that define the service-data hierarchy, and the service-datahierarchy may specify the exchange of the sensor data, the sub-servicesin the service, and the compensation (including instructions for how toprovide the compensation) within the combination for the sensor data andthe sub-services.

In some embodiments, the system optionally receives a request (operation3610) for the service from an electronic device associated with theentity that is associated with the environment, where the entity may bedifferent from the second entities, the third entity, the partners andthe service providers, and the combination may be identified based onthe request. However, in some embodiments the combination is identifiedwithout a request from the entity that is associated with theenvironment. Furthermore, the combination may be identified when: theenvironmental condition occurs; and/or a risk of occurrence of theenvironmental condition exceeds a threshold (such as 1, 5, 10, 25 or50%). Additionally, the system may optionally receive, via the interfacemechanism, an alert (operation 3612) about an occurrence of theenvironmental condition in the environment, where the one or more of theenvironmental monitoring devices are identified based on the alert.

Moreover, the system may optionally: provide a service offer (operation3618) for the service to the electronic device associated with theentity; receive a response (operation 3620) to the service offer fromthe electronic device, where the response authorizes the service; andnotify the combination (operation 3622) to provide the service based onthe response.

Furthermore, the system may optionally perform remedial action(operation 3624). For example, the system may provide modificationinformation specifying one or more modifications to the combinationbased on additional sensor data from: the one or more of theenvironmental monitoring devices; and/or an additional environmentalmonitoring device in the environment. Alternatively or additionally, thesystem may provide revision information specifying one or more revisionsto the service based on additional sensor data from: the one or more ofthe environmental monitoring devices; and/or an additional environmentalmonitoring device in the environment. Note that the system may providethe modification information based on the one or more revisions to theservice. Thus, if the service changes, the combination may be modified.

FIG. 37 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during method 3600 (FIG. 36). In particular, networkingsubsystem 3712 in system 3710 may receive sensor data 3714 and/or alert3716 from one or more of environmental monitoring devices 3718 inenvironments. Moreover, networking subsystem 3712 may optionally receiverequest 3720 for service 3722 from electronic device 3724 associatedwith the entity in one of the environments, and may optionally forwardrequest 3720 to processing subsystem 3726.

Then, processing subsystem 3726 may analyze sensor data 3714 (or thetype(s) of sensor data 3714) to identify combination 3728 that providesservice 3722 related to the environment.

Furthermore, processing subsystem 3726 may communicate, via networkingsubsystem 3712, configuration information 3730 specifying combination3728 and functions in service 3722 to one or more of environmentalmonitoring devices 3718 and one or more of partner electronic devices3732 of the partners and/or service-provider electronic devices 3734 ofthe service providers.

Additionally, processing subsystem 3726 may optionally provide, vianetworking subsystem 3712, a service offer 3736 for service 3722 toelectronic device 3724.

In response, electronic device 3724 may optionally provide response 3738authorizing service 3722, which is received by networking subsystem 3712and forwarded to processing subsystem 3726. Then, processing subsystem3726 may optionally provide, via networking subsystem 3712, notification3740 to combination 3728 to provide service 3722.

Based on optional additional sensor data 3742, which is received bynetworking subsystem 3712 from one or more of environmental monitoringdevices 3718 and/or one or more of partner electronic devices 3732, andforwarded to processing subsystem 3726, processing subsystem 3726 mayoptionally perform remedial action 3744, such as a modification tocombination 3728 and/or a revision to service 3722.

FIG. 38 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 3800 forperforming a remedial action in response to bad sensor data and/orfraudulent payments in one or more combinations in the ecosystem of FIG.1, which may be performed by an environmental monitoring device (such asone of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), a computersystem (such as one of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or, moregenerally, a system at one or more locations in the ecosystem. In thediscussion that follows, the system is used as an illustrative example.

During operation, the system monitors inputs and outputs (operation3810) exchanged among components in combinations that provide servicesin the environments, where the environments include environmentalmonitoring devices (which are associated with user entities and/orsecond entities) and partner electronic devices (which are associatedwith partners or partner entities of a third entity associated with thesystem, such as a provider of the system). Note that the components in agiven combination include at least one of: the environmental monitoringdevices, and one or more of the partner electronic devices and/orservice providers. The given partner electronic device may include, onbehalf of the third entity, at least a module and/or a sensor (i.e., themodule and/or the sensor may be pre-installed in the given partnerelectronic device). Moreover, the service providers include: amaintenance service, an installation service, a retail service, and/oran emergency-monitoring service

Furthermore, the inputs and the outputs from a given component in thegiven combination include: sensor data representing one or moreenvironmental conditions in one or more of the environments,sub-services in the services, and/or compensation (or informationspecifying the compensation) within the given combination for the sensordata and the sub-services. Then, the system: optionally stores themonitored inputs and outputs (operation 3812); analyzes the inputs andoutputs (operation 3814) based on quality criteria and historical inputsand outputs exchanged within the combinations; identifies, based on theanalysis, an instance in the inputs and the outputs of: incorrect sensordata and/or fraudulent compensation (operation 3816); and performs aremedial action (operation 3818) based on the identified instance.

Note that the analysis (operation 3814) may compare the monitored inputsand outputs and historical inputs and outputs from at least a subset ofthe combinations. Moreover, the combinations in the subset may have: acommon type of service, and/or a common type of sensor data.

Moreover, the quality criteria may include: pre-defined orpre-determined signatures of failure mechanisms in the combinations,and/or signatures of previous fraudulent activity in the combinations.

Furthermore, the sensor data may be acquired by one or more of: theenvironmental monitoring devices, and/or the partner electronic devices.

Additionally, at least the one of: the environmental monitoring devicesand the one or more of the partner electronic devices and the serviceproviders in the given combination may be associated with differententities.

In some embodiments, the system optionally provides modificationinformation (operation 3820) specifying one or more modifications to oneor more of the combinations based on the sensor data and/or theenvironmental conditions. In this way, the combinations may be modifiedas the environmental condition changes.

Moreover, the remedial action may include providing a notification aboutthe identified instance to an affected combination. Alternatively oradditionally, the remedial action may include providing modificationinformation specifying a modification to an affected combination thatincludes the identified instance. For example, the modification mayinclude excluding a source of the identified instance from the affectedcombination, where the source may include one of: the environmentalmonitoring devices, the partner electronic devices and/or the serviceproviders. Note that the remedial action may include banning the sourcefrom inclusion in subsequent combinations. Furthermore, the modificationmay include replacing the source of the identified instance in theaffected combination, and where a replacement for the source mayinclude: the environmental monitoring devices, the partner electronicdevices and/or the service providers that is different than the source.

In some embodiments, the remedial action includes: discontinuing aservice provided by an affected combination that includes the instance;and/or adjusting a level of the service provided by the affectedcombination that includes the instance (e.g., the service may be sloweddown or intentionally degraded, noise can be intentionally introduced insignal-based services or in the associated sensor data, or dataprivileges of the source of the instance may be changed or eliminated).Alternatively or additionally, the remedial action may include removingthe incorrect sensor data from the inputs and the outputs. Furthermore,the remedial action may include replacing the incorrect sensor data fromthe inputs and the outputs with modified sensor data (such as inferredor extrapolated sensor data, or sensor data that is corrected for theincorrect sensor data). Additionally, the remedial action may includeinstructions for performing maintenance on the source of the identifiedinstance in an affected combination.

FIG. 39 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during the method 3800 (FIG. 38). In particular,networking subsystem 3912 in system 3910 may monitor inputs and outputs3914 exchanged among and/or with components 3916 in the combinationsthat provide services in the environments. Note that the components in agiven combination may include at least one of: the environmentalmonitoring devices, and one or more of the partner electronic devicesand/or service providers. Moreover, inputs and outputs 3914 from a givencomponent in the given combination include: sensor data representing oneor more environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,sub-services in the services, and/or compensation within the givencombination for the sensor data and the sub-services.

Then, networking subsystem 3912 may optionally store inputs and outputs3914 in memory subsystem 3918 (e.g., for future use). Furthermore,processing subsystem 3920 may access inputs and outputs 3914 in memorysubsystem 3918 and/or may receive inputs and outputs 3914 fromnetworking subsystem 3912, and processing subsystem 3920 may performanalysis 3922 on inputs and outputs 3914 based on quality criteria andhistorical inputs and outputs exchanged within combinations 3916. Next,processing subsystem 3920 may identify, based on analysis 3922, aninstance 3924 in inputs and outputs 3914 of: incorrect sensor dataand/or fraudulent compensation, processing subsystem 3920 may perform aremedial action 3926 based on instance 3924.

In some embodiments, processing subsystem 3920 optionally provides, vianetworking subsystem 3912, modification information 3928 specifying oneor more modifications to components 3916 in one or more of thecombinations based on the sensor data and/or the environmentalconditions.

FIG. 40 presents a flow diagram illustrating method 4000 for analyzinginputs and outputs exchanged in combinations in the ecosystem of FIG. 1,which may be performed by an environmental monitoring device (such asone of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1), a computersystem (such as one of computer systems 120 in FIG. 1) and/or, moregenerally, a system at one or more locations in the ecosystem. In thediscussion that follows, the system is used as an illustrative example.

During operation, the system monitors the inputs and the outputs(operation 4010) among components in the combinations that provideservices in environments, where the environments include environmentalmonitoring devices (which are associated with user entities and/orsecond entities) and partner electronic devices (which are associatedwith partners or partner entities of a third entity associated with thesystem, such as a provider of the system). Note that the components in agiven combination include at least one of: the environmental monitoringdevices, and one or more of the partner electronic devices and/orservice providers. The given partner electronic device may include, onbehalf of the third entity, at least a module and/or a sensor (i.e., themodule and/or the sensor may be pre-installed in the given partnerelectronic device). Moreover, the service providers include: amaintenance service, an installation service, a retail service, and/oran emergency-monitoring service. Furthermore, the inputs and the outputsfrom a given component in the given combination include: sensor datarepresenting one or more environmental conditions in one or more of theenvironments, sub-services in the services, and/or compensation (orinformation specifying the compensation) within the given combinationfor the sensor data and the sub-services. Then, the system optionallystores the monitored inputs and outputs (operation 4012). Next, thesystem analyzes the inputs and the outputs (operation 4014) todetermine: sensor-data patterns, suggested services, and/or suggestedsensor-data sub-contracting during the services and the suggestedservices.

Note that the analysis (operation 4014) may compare the monitored inputsand outputs and historical inputs and outputs from at least a subset ofthe combinations. Moreover, the combinations in the subset may have: acommon type of service, and/or a common type of sensor data.

Moreover, the system may store information specifying the combinationsand the services.

Furthermore, the sensor data may be acquired by one or more of: theenvironmental monitoring devices and/or the partner electronic devices.

Additionally, at least the one of: the environmental monitoring devicesand the one or more of the partner electronic devices and the serviceproviders in the given combination may be associated with differententities. Note that, based on data privileges, at least some of thedifferent entities may have different access rights to the inputs andthe outputs, and to the analysis.

In some embodiments, the system optionally provides: modificationinformation (operation 4016) specifying one or more modifications to oneor more of the combinations based on the analysis, and/or a notification(operation 4016) based on the analysis. In this way, the combinationsmay be modified or adapted based on identified opportunities.

Note that analysis (operation 4014) may determine: purchasing patterns,recommended product features, recommended retail inventory, recommendedpricing of the services and the suggested services, and/or recommendeddurations of the services and the suggested services.

Additionally, the system may optionally: receive requests for theservices (operation 4018), e.g., from electronic devices of userentities; and provide configuration information (operation 4020)specifying the combinations and functions of the components in thecombinations. Note that at least some of the combinations may providethe services in at least a subset of the environments without action byoccupants of at least the subset of the environments (e.g., the requestsmay be provided by third parties). For example, the requests for theservices for at least some of the combinations may be associated with: agovernmental organization, an insurance provider, and/or an owner of atleast the subset of the environments.

FIG. 41 presents a drawing illustrating communication among componentsin an ecosystem during the method 4000 (FIG. 40). In particular,networking subsystem 4112 in system 4110 may monitor inputs and outputs4114 exchanged among and/or with components 4116 in the combinationsthat provide services in the environments. Note that the components in agiven combination may include at least one of: the environmentalmonitoring devices, and one or more of the partner electronic devicesand/or service providers. Moreover, inputs and outputs 4114 from a givencomponent in the given combination include: sensor data representing oneor more environmental conditions in one or more of the environments,sub-services in the services, and/or compensation within the givencombination for the sensor data and the sub-services.

Then, networking subsystem 4112 may optionally store inputs and outputs4114 in memory subsystem 4118. Furthermore, processing subsystem 4120may access inputs and outputs 4114 in memory subsystem 4118 and/or mayreceive inputs and outputs 4114 from networking subsystem 4112, andprocessing subsystem 4120 may perform analysis 4122 on inputs andoutputs 4114 to determine analysis results, such as: sensor-datapatterns, suggested services, and/or suggested sensor-datasub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.

Additionally, processing subsystem 4120 may optionally provide, vianetworking subsystem 4112, modification information 4124 specifying oneor more modifications to components 4116 in one or more of thecombinations and/or notification 4126 based on analysis 4122.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem 4112 may optionally receive,from one or more components 4116, one or more requests 4128 for one ormore services, and networking subsystem 4112 may optionally forward theone or more requests 4128 to processing subsystem 4120. In response,processing subsystem 4120 may optionally provide, via networkingsubsystem 4112, configuration information 4130 specifying thecombinations and functions of components 4116 in the combinations, socomponents 4116 can provide the one or more requested services.

In some embodiments of one or more of the preceding methods, there maybe additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order of theoperations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combinedinto a single operation. In addition, in some of the precedingembodiments there are fewer components, more components, a position of acomponent is changed and/or two or more components are combined.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possibleembodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the contextof a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, theforegoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description only. Theyare not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure tothe forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations willbe apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments andapplications without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments isnot intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: an interface mechanism configured to communicate with electronic devices; and a control mechanism, coupled to the interface mechanism, configured to: receive, via the interface mechanism, a service request for a service associated with an environment from an electronic device of an entity; identify an environmental monitoring device within the environment in response to the service request, wherein the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment, and wherein the environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity that is different from the entity and a third entity associated with the system; provide, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device; receive, via the interface mechanism, the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device in response to the data request; and provide the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the service is associated with a type of the sensor data; and wherein the environmental monitoring device is identified based on the type of the sensor data.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to analyze the sensor data; and wherein the service is provided based on the analyzed sensor data.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the service request includes compensation to the third entity for the service.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second entity includes a service provider; and wherein the data request includes compensation to the second entity for the sensor data.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second entity includes a partner of the third entity; and wherein the sensor data is received without compensation to the second entity for the sensor data.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide an instruction to a regulator device in the environment to modify the environmental condition; wherein the regulator device is associated with one of: the second entity; and a fourth entity that is different from the entity, the second entity and the third entity; and wherein the instruction includes compensation for modifying the environmental condition.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the compensation is for one of: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis; and modifying the environmental condition during at least a time interval.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the service is provided on a one-time basis.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the service is selectively provided as a function of time based on the environmental condition.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein performing the service involves one of: downloading software for the environmental monitoring device that, when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs the service; and remotely enabling a software module in the environmental monitoring device that, when executed by the environmental monitoring device, performs the service.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the service includes insurance for one of: an item in the environment; a portion of the environment; and the environment.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises: a processor coupled to the interface mechanism; and memory, coupled to the processor, which stores a program module configured to be executed by the processor, the program module including instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the system.
 14. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with a system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to provide a service, the computer-program mechanism including: instructions for receiving, via an interface mechanism in the system, a service request for the service associated with an environment from an electronic device of an entity; instructions for identifying an environmental monitoring device within the environment in response to the service request, wherein the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment, and wherein the environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity that is different from the entity and a third entity associated with the system; instructions for providing, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device; instructions for receiving, via the interface mechanism, the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device in response to the data request; and instructions for providing the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.
 15. The computer-program product of claim 14, wherein the service is associated with a type of the sensor data; and wherein the environmental monitoring device is identified based on the type of the sensor data.
 16. The computer-program product of claim 14, wherein the second entity includes a service provider; and wherein the data request includes compensation to the second entity for the sensor data.
 17. The computer-program product of claim 14, wherein the second entity includes a partner of the third entity; and wherein the sensor data is received without compensation to the second entity for the sensor data.
 18. The computer-program product of claim 14, wherein the computer-program mechanism further comprises instructions for providing an instruction to a regulator device in the environment to modify the environmental condition; wherein the regulator device is associated with one of: the second entity; and a fourth entity that is different from the entity, the second entity and the third entity; and wherein the instruction includes compensation for modifying the environmental condition.
 19. The computer-program product of claim 18, wherein the compensation is for one of: modifying the environmental condition on a per-event basis; and modifying the environmental condition during at least a time interval.
 20. A system-implemented method for providing a service, wherein the method comprises: receiving, via an interface mechanism in the system, a service request for the service associated with an environment from an electronic device of an entity; using a control mechanism in the system, identifying an environmental monitoring device within the environment in response to the service request, wherein the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment, and wherein the environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity that is different from the entity and a third entity associated with the system; providing, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device; receiving, via the interface mechanism, the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device in response to the data request; and providing the service to the entity based on the environmental condition. 